Issues in Language, Culture and Education in Eastern Indonesia

Preface

        The Era of Globalization and Decentralization have clear implication for the development of education and culture in Indonesia. Global education including the teaching of global language, English has become trend in schools across provinces of Indonesia. Indonesian people should able to respond to this trend wisely. Furthermore, Decentralization of Education in Indonesia becomes a significant education policy as well as a milestone in the process of democracy. Educational decentralization policy seems to respond to the local school’s need and the local people’s aspirations.

       This book is designed to give a wide perspective on the importance of development and implementation of effective language, culture and education policy at primary schools in Indonesia. It also provides recommendations to both local governments and central government of Indonesia to consider the importance of bottom up policy in the development of democratization in the educational settings. Furthermore, the balance of language education in schools should be taken into consideration including the local language maintenance program through formal education that in line with the local people’s aspirations.

        Thus, this book is dedicated to educators, curriculum planners, policy makers, linguists and all members of community who are concerned with the development and implementation of language, culture and education policy in schools.

        However, it is undeniable that this book could be far from perfect. Therefore, any suggestion and comments from the readers are welcome.

Blurb 

Before the era of political reform, educational and cultural policies in Indonesia were centralized. Nearly all public policies and decision making in the area of education and culture did not fully consider the real needs of the local people across the archipelago. In 1999, the new government policies were introduced and consider the importance of local people participation in decision making of language education policies in their own areas. Emerging as one of the biggest democracy countries in the world, Indonesia should maintain the balance and harmony of language education in schools. Inclusive educational and cultural policies are required in order to respect the reality of multicultural society particularly in this era of Decentralization and Globalization. District of Tolitoli in Eastern Indonesia experienced new challenges on the implementation of language education policy.  This book, therefore, is provided for lecturers, researchers, curriculum planners and policy makers who are concerned with the issues in cultural and educational policies.

Notes:
My book was published by LAP Publisher in Germany in 2009 and it can be purchased through Amazon Website.