Long before the calls for character education at school, the people of Indonesia knew much about character building during the New Order period, namely the teaching of P4 (Guidelines for the Understanding and Implementation of Pancasila). Along with the teaching of other school subjects, however, the teaching of Pancasila had become marginalised.
Such was stated by lecturer from Faculty of Philosophy UGM, Drs. Slamet Sutrisno, M.Si, in the course given on Pancasila with the theme Pancasila State Constitution, organised by Centre for Pancasila Studies UGM, at Sang Timur Highschool, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (15/1).
“Previously, there was the P4 teaching in the New Order era, which was an effort to instill good character,” Slamet said.
In Slamet Sutrisno’s opinion, ideologically or philosophically, Pancasila can still contribute to the advancement of Indonesia, but there had been blocks along the way, such as globalisation and religious fanaticism.
He regretted the eroded values of Pancasila among Indonesians as compared to citizens of other nations. Even without the Pancasila attributes, other nations have also implemented the values of Pancasila.
“It can be said that the condition is critical now. We find it difficult to separate between the good and the bad,” he said.
This condition, according to Slamet, has become one hard work to be completed by teachers of Pancasila, not only to educate Pancasila values, but also how to make good examples to students.
The Pancasila course attended by some 30 teachers from Elementary, Junior and Highschool teachers in Yogyakarta is expected to be a solution to answer teachers’ concerns following the marginalised Pancasila subject. Hendro Muhaimin, researcher from the Centre, said the course was designed to give input to curriculum development and character education.