Characters education is one of the important aspects to build the nation's character. Unfortunately, character education in Indonesia so far only handles on the level of the introduction of new norms or values. The implemented character education has not reached the level of intralitation and concrete actions in daily life.
Chairman of the Expert Team from Center for Pancasila Studies (PSP), Prof. Sutaryo, revealed that today a massive reduction of the value of education and culture was observed. One of them is the separation between education and culture in the structure of the government apparatus domain, which was initially the Ministry of Education and Culture, splitting into the Department of Education and Department of Culture and Tourism.
In this case, Sutaryo said, education is reduced to schooling that requires it to educate people based on competency to prepare Indonesian people to become human resources within the framework of the world market mechanisms. History analysis of education in Indonesia was presented by Ki Hajar Dewantara in 1922. School education had initially been intended to produce employees to serve the interests of the Netherlands. But Ki Hajar changed the mindset of education where education is for the free soul, independent community, state, and nation. But after the globalization, history starts all over again with a more modern style. Education is intended to serve the world market share.
“School education is now deprived of its educational philosophy. Three centers of education namely family, school, and community environment are separated. Eventually, the end result of education itself is more often become uncertain," Sutaryo explained in training program of character building on human resources of HR Organizers at International Standard Vocational School (SMK RSBI), Tuesday (11/10) at Wisma KAGAMA.
Similarly, the culture is reduced to cultural activities and tourism with the aim to capture the tourists as many as possible to gain foreign exchange. "What is happening now is not in the realm of affirming the nation's cultural character as the mental basis for Indonesian community," he explained.
Meanwhile, culture expert, Prof. Dr. Sumijati AS., conveys the education character design in school is done through ‘harmony school’ model. The concept of harmony school promotes values of harmony, tranquility, peace in the learning activities undertaken by teachers, students, and all elements in the school. "Character education in harmony school teaches to life in diversity, building trust, mutual understanding and foster openness in thinking," she explained.
Sumijati adds that harmony cultural practices in school can be done by jointly reflecting on social violence that occurs between students to create a culture of harmony among students. In addition the harmony cultural practices can also be done by cutting the senior-junior relations in the classroom that leads to non-academic activities, creating a non-violence learning model, and expanding academic activities that lead to the creation of cultural harmony.
"The cultural harmony practice in schools can also be done by creating a social outlet for students who do not involve themselves too much in school activities," he added.