The tweet suggesting that graduations should be limited to university graduates and not be held for preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students has sparked a discussion on social media and garnered various comments from netizens.
Psychologist Dr. T. Novi Poespita Candra said that the term “graduation” in Indonesia was only used by communities on higher education levels in the past. However, over time, graduation ceremonies began to be held at all levels of education.
“Previously, from preschool to high school, it was called a farewell, but lately, everyone refers to it as a graduation. The issue arises when preschool to high school graduation ceremonies become excessive and affect the people financial-wise,” the lecturer from the UGM Faculty of Psychology explained on Tuesday (27/6).
She mentioned that in other countries, the term “graduation” is used for all levels of education. However, there are significant differences in how graduation ceremonies are conducted in Indonesia and abroad. What is clear is that graduation celebrations abroad are simpler.
“From my experience, when my child graduated from elementary school in Australia, we were invited and listened to each child’s progress. The focus was on celebrating the child’s development. There was no elaborate feast or extravagant celebration,” she explained.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, graduation ceremonies at the preschool and elementary levels often require renting luxurious venues, costumes, and other expenses. This becomes excessive and burdensome for parents and schools.
This condition has led to criticism from various parties, prompting the government through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to issue a Circular (SE).
Through Circular No. 14 of 2023, issued on June 13, 2023, the ministry urges that graduation activities should not be made mandatory. If graduation ceremonies are held, they should not burden parents or guardians of students.
“In reality, education is needed because if graduation is prohibited, similar activities will still occur but under a different name. It’s not about the celebration or the graduation itself, but more about excessive lifestyle during graduations,” she emphasized.
Dr. Candra emphasized the importance of educating all parties, including parents, about the essence of graduation: expressing gratitude for achieving a particular milestone and reflecting on the development and progress made by children and the parents throughout their educational journey.
“Graduation is not just about crossing a milestone but also about reflecting on progress; it’s a reflection on each child’s development,” she explained.
Moreover, graduation is an opportunity to prepare children and parents for the next educational level.
“It extends beyond administrative matters; for example, when entering middle school, children are already adolescents. So, as they enter adolescence, what should parents prepare, and what messages should be conveyed to the children? These are the meanings that should be learned,” she concluded.
Author: Ika