Darwin School Backtracks on Indonesian Language Program
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National Trend of Declining indonesian Language Studies
The Essington decision comes on the heels of a similar move by Scotch College,one of Melbourne’s most elite schools,earlier in the year. Bayu Prihantoro, who served as an assistant Indonesian language teacher at Scotch, observed strong student enthusiasm for the language.“You could say that 80, 90 percent of children are enthusiastic and happy to learn Indonesian, especially when native speakers come,”Prihantoro expressed surprise and disappointment when the program was abruptly terminated. “Suddenly, the program was removed. Removed from the curriculum,” he said. Mukhamad Najib, the educational and cultural attache at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, called on the Australian government to “be more serious in developing the learning of Asian languages, especially Indonesian.” He believes the responsibility lies with Australia to ensure the sustainability of Indonesian language programs.
“We cannot possibly be the dominant factor in strengthening Indonesian language learning in Australia, the Australian government must play a bigger role by allocating a budget for Indonesian language learning,” he stated. ”peter, a member of parliament who is fluent in Indonesian, has been advocating for increased support for Indonesian language learning at the federal level. He believes the model used in Western australia, which involves dedicated Indonesian language teachers, could be successfully implemented in Northern Australia.
Indonesian Language Learning in Australia Faces Steep Decline
Despite Indonesia’s rising popularity as a tourist destination for Australians, interest in learning the indonesian language is plummeting within Australian schools and universities. While Indonesia surpassed New Zealand as the top travel destination for Australians in the past year, fewer students are choosing to study the language. This decline is especially concerning given Indonesia’s growing economic power in Southeast Asia. The number of Australian universities offering Indonesian language programs has dwindled from 22 in 1992 to just 12 in 2022. This trend is attributed to several factors, including budget constraints and a perception that Indonesian is less important than other languages, particularly those from Western countries. Bayu, a representative from the Indonesian Students’ Association in Australia, expressed worry about the potential for this trend to continue. “Many Australians don’t see Indonesia as an important country,” he said. “They only think of Bali as a holiday destination.”Outdated Materials and Negative Perceptions Pose Challenges
Bayu also highlighted the issue of outdated learning materials, stating that textbooks frequently enough fail to reflect Indonesia’s rapid growth in recent years. “Our textbooks do not contain the latest information about Indonesia,” he explained. “Indonesia has developed very rapidly now, but books still depict Indonesia in 2005.” Najib,a representative from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra,agreed,emphasizing the need for updated textbooks and collaborative efforts between Australian educators and Indonesian experts to develop relevant learning resources. Further complicating the situation are negative perceptions of Indonesia stemming from events like the 2002 Bali Bombings and the 2005 Bali Nine case. Alistair Welsh, a lecturer in Indonesian at Melbourne’s Deakin University, pointed out that these incidents have contributed to a prejudiced view of the country, hindering language learning initiatives.“Viewed from a distance, it is easy to demonize the other party,” he said. “However, Indonesia will not just disappear. They are, and always will be, one of our closest neighbors and one of the greatest countries in the world.” Despite these challenges, both the Australian Department of Education and advocates for Indonesian language learning remain committed to supporting language programs in schools.Silvy Wantania, President of the Victorian indonesian Language Teachers Association (VILTA), suggested incorporating aspects of Indonesian pop culture, such as music and films, into teaching materials to make them more engaging for students.
## Q&A: Darwin School’s Decision to Drop Indonesian Language Program
**Q: Why is Essington School, in Darwin, facing criticism?**
**A: ** Essington School is facing criticism as they’ve decided to discontinue their Indonesian language program, effective in 2025.
**Q: what reasons did the school give for ending the program?**
**A:** The school spokesperson stated that the decision was “based on a thorough review of curriculum priorities, parent input, and student engagement.”
**Q:** What concerns were raised by local MP **Luke Gosling** about the decision?
**A:** **Luke Gosling** expressed concern, calling it “a major setback for the government and private schools to ignore our large and strategically crucial neighbors.” He emphasized the importance of fostering relationships wiht Indonesia, Australia’s closest neighbor.
**Q: Were parents consulted about the program’s closure?**
**A:** No, the ABC revealed that parents were not consulted about the program’s closure and no alternative language options were presented.
**Q:** How do Essington’s actions compare to a similar situation in Melbourne?
**A:** A similar decision was made by Scotch College in Melbourne earlier this year,where they also ended their Indonesian language program.
**Q: what was the reaction of Bayu Prihantoro, a former assistant Indonesian language teacher at Scotch college?**
**A:** Bayu Prihantoro expressed surprise and disappointment at the abrupt termination of the program. He noted that students were keen about learning Indonesian, especially when native speakers were involved.
**Q:** How did **Bayu Prihantoro** feel about the cancellation of the Indonesian program at Scotch college?
**A:** Bayu Prihantoro expressed surprise and disappointment at the abrupt termination of the program.
**Q:** What did **Luke Gosling**, a local MP, say about Essington School’s decision to cut the Indonesian language program?
**A:** Luke Gosling expressed concern, calling it a “major setback” and emphasizing the importance of fostering relationships with indonesia, Australia’s closest neighbor.
