Cover story from Campus Asia issue May - July 2009

We live in an era that always requires changes. But, some things do not need to change. Absolute truth, for instance, has never changed and will never need to change. Government leaders say they will introduce changes. But I don’t believe they can solve the problem of natural disasters, divorce, hatred, etc. They can give hope, but can they actually fulfill their promises?

The real problem lies in the philosophy of education itself. This philosophy assumes that parents are no longer responsible for their children’s education, and parents now believe that it is the school that must be responsible for their children’s lives. The truth is, many parents fail to equip their children with the right values and emotional maturity. The concept of morality being taught is no longer what God wants of man but what man wants to achieve.

Parents must uphold love, forgiveness and discipline at home. Like parents, children are made in the image of God. Parents need to usher in love, forgiveness and discipline. One of the most important decisions parents make is determining the direction of their children’s education. Never choose a school without knowing its vision and direction. The Word of God says that everything we have achieved is because of the grace of God. Therefore, I believe that a successful education is also God’s grace for us.

Theocracy in education does not mean turning every teacher in the classroom into teachers of religion. No. But it means making every teacher realize that whatever they teach should be integrated with their faith — a way of life in which knowledge, faith and character are integral parts of a life-long process of learning.

(read complete article in pdf)

DR. (HC) James T. Riady is Chairman of Universitas Pelita Harapan