LANGUAGE AND BASIC EDUCATION IN INDONESIA

Authors

  • Frederick John Bowden Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26499/li.v31i1.1

Keywords:

local language, education, Indonesian educational system

Abstract

Indonesia is a country with a great richness of local languages spoken within its boundaries – over 700 distinct languages according to Lewis, ed. (2009). Indonesia is also a rapidly developing country with growing incomes and growing educational achievement. Unfortunately, this growth in income and education is unevenly distributed across the country and significant portions of the Indonesian population are missing out on the benefits of increased economic growth and development. To a very large extent, the parts of Indonesia lagging in terms of development are the regions with the richest diversity of languages. In this paper, I argue the case for greater use of local languages in early education in the underdeveloped east of the country, not just as a means of defending local culture but also as a means towards more equitable educational achievement and economic development. I also examine some of the political issues that may be relevant in pursuing greater use of minority languages in classrooms.

References

Badan Pusat Statistik, 2010. Survei Sosial Ekonomi Nasional (SUSENAS). Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik.

Di Gropello, Emanuela, 2006. A Comparative Analysis of School-based Management in Central America. World Bank working paper: no. 72.

Jhingran, Dhir. 2005. Language Disadvantage. The Learning Challenge in Primary Education. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing.

Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, TX: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.

Patrinos, Harry Anthony and Velez, Eduardo. 2009. Costs and Benefits of Bilingual Education in Guatemala: a Partial Analysis. International Journal of Educational Development, 594-598.

UNESCO, 2007. Advocacy Kit for Promoting Multilingual Education: Including the Excluded. Bangkok: UNESCO.

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Published

26-02-2013

How to Cite

John Bowden, F. (2013). LANGUAGE AND BASIC EDUCATION IN INDONESIA. Linguistik Indonesia, 31(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.26499/li.v31i1.1