TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's success rate in competing internationally is at stake. The reason is because Indonesia's course of higher studies lacks an immediate blueprint for education.

Tridoyo Kusumastanto, a professor at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) and chairman of the university's Academic Senate, said that the lack of education blueprint has resulted in an unclear role of education within the process of nation-building.

"There is a discontinuity in the state's education policy as well as the political influence in the education policy. Education must have long-term, medium and short directions that are clear. Changing the educational policy every time the government changes is a fatal error for the nation's development," he said as written in IPB's website on May 4, 2016.

He said that Indonesia has advantages in terms of demographics. But this "bonus" will not have a positive impact because of the disharmony between the education and the construction sector.

This demographic bonus, he said, has even become a burden because the domestic labor is not well- prepared to adapt with the rapid development of science and technology. Moreover, the direction of the construction sector is not in line with the level of education.

To address this problem, he suggested an agreement between the government and stakeholders in formulating educational policies and strategies. The agreement should be outlined in a blueprint that has strong legal umbrella, and valid for at least 25 years.

"The blueprint must be supported by an autonomy policy of higher education and ample budget, and must be free from the shackles of bureaucracy for universities of international repute," he said.

In addition, he said, the blueprint must also be used for the betterment of Indonesia's civilization, science and technology development, and have a role in building the nation.

QUSYAINI HASAN | ipb.ac.id