on Open Source Curriculum

Today in my workplace, an introduction to KTSP is held. What is KTSP? It stands for Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan. It's like an Open Source Curriculum. The Government gave us a framework of curriculum, with some expectation they included on such a term like "Standar Isi", "Standar Kompetensi Lulusan"and some breakdown: "Standar Kompetensi" and "Kompetensi Dasar". Why is it like an Open Source Software? The Government only included standards above. How it will be implemented is the task for each school.

Realizing that so many of their citizens are not satisfied with the education system, finally the government give more independence to each institution to develop their own curriculum. For some state teacher this is truly a different view. But for private institution like us, it is the best chance to develop the teaching methodology. The curriculum will be the product of each school. With teacher certified and the curriculum developed, there will be a free market competition in education.

For me, it's like an appreciation for the struggle of many people concerned in education recent years. They were unsatisfied with the national education system, for then they build home-school, create their own curriculum, offer much better learning facilities, and so on. Curriculum change as fast as the world's demand change. And that's what happen in Indonesian education system. Like in the Open Source terminology, Indonesian Government then offer the "kernel" of the system. The Graphical User Interface (GUI), the security feature, the software embedded is the headmaster's business. The headmaster will have full power to take where the ship sails.

Will the spirit of the Open Source movement influence KTSP? The race has already begin. Some left behind, but some lead to the future. That's the free market effect. As Microsoft feel the fear facing Linux, who then will be "Flinstoned" from this race? We can guess from now..
And so, Welcome Open Source Curriculum..!