IO – Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim has initiated an education reform program through a “Study Free” (Merdeka Belajar) system. This program will be rolled out in 2021.
The Study Free program is presented after Nadiem perceives education as being managed with a company management system, through incentives and disincentives. But the product is a human being.
“Very managerial. Like factories, call centers, agents, and even motorcycles. But it turns out that this product is not like an app. That’s wrong. This is a human product / the level of complexity is extraordinary,” said Nadiem.
Nadiem is optimistic that through the Study Free system, he can make a big leap through the education system which is planned to be implemented in 2021.
“Through this system, 10% to 20% can jump and hope, from there it will be able to influence the agents of change. Because education reform cannot only be done by the government. The people and society must participate, companies must participate,” he said.
In designing the Study Free, Nadiem researched about five months. He conducted interviews with experts, teachers, principals, students, and so on.
From the research results, Nadiem found many new perspectives, where education could be improved through incentives, such as how factories or start-ups work.
According to Nadiem, the way to provide incentives and disincentives cannot be done in education.
“Education is full of human complexity. It cannot be with the same approach. One thing that I have realized, there are many of the best schools that come from the non-formal sector,” said Nadiem.
“So, Free Study is a call to action for the community, for teachers, schools, parents, so that they can redefine how culture develops very quickly. To free education, all must be involved,” explained Nadiem. (des)