Vision from Campus Asia Magazine Vol. 3 no.15, October -December 2010

The most fundamental issue to be determined before talking about education is the question of “Who owns the child?” The answer you provide for this question will reveal your definition and orientation of education as well as your value system regarding education.

In Indonesia—a society based on state ideology Pancasila (five principles), children are perceived to be owned by society. So, children are taught to comply with what society wants. And we are living in an era where society is controlled by business and industry people.

In Eastern culture, to whom does a child belong? Some say children belong to their parents. In the practical reality, the child belongs to the father. In Pelita Harapan schools, including Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) education is not conducted in such manner. Here we strongly believe that children—as do their parents—belong to God.

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