Mozaic 5

Teacher Certification,
Education Realm without Logic

Test of teacher certification with portfolio evaluation is apparent crystallization of a reference to professional teacher. Portfolio evaluation is evaluated makes more difficult and causes a fissure by emerging dishonest done by teacher for the sake to obtains educator certificate (Kompas, 8/10/2007). Certificate falsification is very probable done as way to have portfolio. It is very ironic because the teacher will be exercised as liar and forger.

Even the meaning of “certification” has changed to confused aim. Certification derives from the word “certificate.” According to The Great Dictionary of Indonesian Language, certificate means that ‘sign or reference (written statement or printed) from the authorized people used as evident of an event.’ From the definition, certification can be meant as process to obtain written reference from the result of a process has been done related to educational profession. Nevertheless, by presenting this test of teacher certification, the meaning of certification is deviating, namely it means a process to collect and/ or false certificate to be recognized its validation for the sake to obtain professional status (read: subsidy).

It seems that education realm as basis of logic development from everything exactly do all over again itself through illogic policy. Certification as marker that a teacher is stated professional or qualified by evaluating portfolio is difficult to be justified its validation. How can evaluate so many validation of datum of many teachers too? This is similar to look for pin in husk. It is absolutely illogic, not effective, and not efficient.

If this portfolio evaluation can be run, a great question (read: doubt) in the final grade of teacher stated pass or does not pass test of certification. There is no very strong base to explain the result. Point of aim that should be worried is collusion, corruption, and nepotism practice (KKN) by insignificant additional friendship or the other.

Seeing this phenomenon, imagine in our mind that education realm will develop become disorganized environment and there is simplification in various process. Study process become professional teacher is not important again because the most important is the result. The result is becoming teacher who has professional certificate with whatever way so that to obtain profession subsidy the base pay once every month. The problem of money becomes source and purpose. This is horrifying vicious circle.

Actually the way of government has been better although it remains illogic, namely plans test of certification by test of competence. Nevertheless, Assembly at Provincial Level (DPR) rejects it so emerge an agreement about test of certification with portfolio evaluation. This way is very fatal and illogic absolutely. It is clear that illogic (read: haphazardness) comes from our leaders. Or it is good intention to make prosperous society (teacher) easily as done our leaders in making prosperous themselves. We know that many officials get falsification, public lying, and KKN case.


The Foolish of Education Realm

The class of education realm is class of people has broad insight and become pillar of state development. It is clear when Hiroshima and Nagasaki was bombed by alliance, the first question asked by Emperor of Japan was “Is still there or no the teacher alive?” It shows that Emperor of Japan sure that education realm capable to revive Japan of buried. And this is not only lie because Japan is proved become the great state in the world after nuclear bombing.

Nevertheless, through test of certification with portfolio evaluation makes education realm is weak and dragged along apparent policy. Foolish thing is a teacher stated competent and professional evaluated from portfolio or test of competence. Test of competence proposed by government is not capable yet become responsible media to evaluate. It is similar to policy that graduation of pupil in study is only determined by three lessons; they are Indonesian Language, English Language, and Mathematics or Economics. In serious condition, the government drives of mad increasingly by planning UAN (National Final Exam) with six lessons. The policy of UAN had seized teacher’s hard work to accompany students and more sadistically, UAN kills the future of nation’s children.

Most of teachers who follow test of certification are charged and so very busy with various charter, certificate, letter of work, the other archives. It is not added yet wary if they do not pass the test because they will ashamed with colleague so they try to add portfolio much more. What happens with them so enthusiasm and has spirit to follow test of certificate?

I am sure it is no problem of prestige and details of professional. Be realistic that the life requirements every month. Passing to test of certification means that obtains profession subsidy once base pay every month. This is becoming the main purpose of part of teachers who follow test of certification. They are not wrong because it is a concrete and realistic. Nevertheless, we have to ask, how essence a competence and professional teacher which to be purpose of test of certification followed up after passed test of certification? The teacher largely will answer, “So what!”

Professionalism has been designed by decision maker as the aim of teacher at her/ his progress in education realm. And according to teacher, professionalism becomes the final result by presenting subsidy. This is a concept will collapse the spirit of education realm to be learner human. When teacher had got professional certificate and got subsidy, he/ she does not want to develop education realm optimally, what solution will be taken by decision maker? It maybe easy, gives a tantalization of profession subsidy twofold from base pay every month. Certainly, the teachers will be enthusiasm to more professional. Finally, education realm will be association of craving of money and the honest dedication began changeable.

More foolish, when test of certification is agreed and performed by university own Normal School (FKIP). This is similar to trifle the meaning of educational process in FKIP that eventually gives certificate of tertiary teacher-level course as someone’s license may be teacher. That certificate is SIM (Teacher’s License) to graduate of FKIP as driver’s license. Perhaps the police will also give rule that drivers have to own SKM, namely Competence Letter to Drive by collecting achievement certificate during drive. I hope that the police will be wiser, logier, and more prudence.

It is clear that our education realm is being afflicting an acute illogical. Maybe National Education Day (2 May) in the future decades will be celebrated by laughing illogical present.

Teacher’s competence increasing will be better and directed if it is performed through periodical process and contextual and objective supervision. The enemy of this nation is money and moral. There are much money will collapse a good intention to develop education. Low moral makes people are strong by their ego and cannot treat like human to other human. For the sake of saving teacher’s professionalism, there is great vacancy. Wanted healthy, life, honest, and logic human! Immediately, call: the officials’ lustrous.