Inflations Academic in Aceh

EVERY commemorate National Awakening Day (Harkitnas) new-including that we commemorated on May 20, 2016 lalu-- we re-evaluate where the position is in the constellation nation among nations. Again and again we find the many indicators of our Nation remains on the appeal of other nations, including in the ASEAN region. A wealth of natural resources (SDA) we are apparently not been able to bring prosperity to all. The study results in a lot of places do show that SDA is only a necessary condition but not enough for the revival and progress of a nation. The quantity and especially the quality of human resources (HR) is a sufficient condition absolute even in the era of this science.

At a more micro level, Aceh is an example of how natural resources can not be welfare of its people. In addition to mis-management and corruption by resource managers in Aceh, the quality of human resources is both a cause and a result of a variety of our problems. Strangely, this happened in the middle of the abundant amount of skilled manpower, particularly scholar in Aceh.

Every year thousands of scholars produced by a number of state universities (PTN) and private universities (PTS) in Aceh. Being a bachelor is a pride. Many parents want their children to be scholars. Prospective in-laws, is also said to prefer a suitor who was an undergraduate. Being a scholar, a rector PTS in Aceh at one time, can also increase the confidence of our young generation. If it can not be a scholar of the State, let them be scholars from PTS. Therefore, logically, let us continue the production of scholars.

Perhaps because of the logic of it, the more state and private universities that are present in Aceh. For those who have wanted so PTN PTS later. The reason is in order to get "government funding". Even the PTS was often not fully private, alias still expect government assistance. Central government funds through Kopertis and local government funds through grants or other assistance.

There are a number of errors in the way of thinking as above views. First, the production of excessive scholar may be good for the short term, but long-term effects should be considered for Aceh. Moreover, if the increase in quantity is not followed by improved quality. Also, how the actual needs of scholars in Aceh?

Second, in a modern democratic system, there is no such thing as "government funds". The government had no funds. The government does not have anything. The government is the party that was given the mandate by the people to manage the funds and all the resources that exist in an area, Aceh for example. The owner of "government funds" is the people's true. That is, any government-issued funds actually come to burden the people.

the people's burden

Data in the Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education (Higher Education Kemenristek) shows, the number of PTN / PTS in Aceh is the second largest after North Sumatra on Sumatra Island. This figure is also one of the highest in Indonesia. Even for the number of state universities, Aceh was ranked first in Sumatra. Of course this is a pride for us.

How could I not, with a population of about 5 million people, Aceh currently has eight state universities to produce graduates. Most other PTS is trying to "dinegerikan" too. Most had also produced many master and a doctorate. Compare with Singapore, a country with a population of 6 million people, which has only three state universities while the rest are polytechnics and other vocational schools. Our neighboring province of North Sumatra with a population of over 13 million inhabitants, has PTN much less than Aceh.

When viewed more deeply, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) higher education in Aceh is always being at the top of the island of Sumatra along West Sumatra. APK higher education Aceh is 0.42 to 0.38 while West Sumatra. That is, for every 100 people aged 19-23 years in Aceh, 38 of which were recorded as a student. This figure is much higher than other provinces in Sumatra, including North Sumatra. Even the number of higher education APK Aceh and West Sumatra region is far above the national average which is still in the range of 0.20 to 0.25. That is, the people of Aceh and Padang is a society that has a tradition of learning to the highest education level.

Of course there is nothing wrong with this fact. Even we, once again, worthy of pride. But do not forget, every one of us who was educated, especially in public education, from SDN to the State must always use the "people's money and resources". Although we pay tuition at state universities is quite high though the most famous, the tuition fee is still not enough to print an undergraduate. That is, the people bear the burden of producing every scholar in the country.

More gravity again, a period of study students in Aceh on average longer than students in other provinces in Sumatra. That is, the more "public money" used to give birth to every scholar. Moreover, to produce masters and doctoral degrees that require much greater cost. It is common knowledge, though priced higher graduate education by PTN / PTS, most graduate programs to be subsidized because of the number of students is very little in most programs. It is also "the people's burden" that should give subsidies here and there.

poor quality

Why study period students in Aceh on average longer than students in PTN / PTS other provinces in Sumatra and also at the national level? There are many factors that influence a prospective graduate study period. But for a degree candidate in Aceh may linger as a student is a bad choice of which option is worse: being unemployed after the students.