Mengenal Ki Hadjar Dewantara, Bapak Pendidikan Indonesia

KOMPAS.TV - The Father of Indonesian Education, Ki Hadjar Dewantara, was born in the Pakualam Palace in Yogyakarta on May 2, 1889, with the name Raden Mas Soewardi Soeryaningrat. As a young man, Soewardi attended the Batavia Medical School (STOVIA), but did not graduate due to his ill health. He later worked as a journalist for several newspapers, such as Oetoesan Hindia and Kaoem Moeda. In addition to writing, he was also active in organizations. In 1912, Soewardi, along with Douwes Dekker and Cipto Mangunkusumo, founded the first political party in the Dutch East Indies, the Indische Partij, to achieve Indonesian independence. His criticism of the colonial government, written in an article entitled "If I Were a Dutchman," led to Soewardi's exile to the Netherlands in 1913, along with Cipto Mangunkusumo and Douwes Dekker. Soewardi used his exile in the Netherlands to delve deeper into the world of education. On July 3, 1922, Soewardi founded "Taman Siswa" (Student Garden) in Yogyakarta. He also abandoned his noble name and adopted the name Ki Hadjar Dewantara to make his efforts more easily accepted by the public. After Indonesia's independence in 1945, Ki Hadjar Dewantara was appointed as the first Minister of Education, Teaching, and Culture. Ki Hadjar Dewantara died on April 26, 1959, in Yogyakarta. December 16, 1959, his birthday was declared National Education Day. Ki Hadjar Dewantara also created three mottos that are still used in education today. The three mottos are "Ing Ngarsa Sung Tuladha, Ing Madya Mangun Karsa, Tut Wuri Handayani," which means "in front, set an example, in the middle, give encouragement, and behind, give encouragement." These three mottos, inherited from Ki Hadjar Dewantara, later became the mottos of education in Indonesia. Part of his motto, Tut Wuri Handayani, even became part of the logo of the Ministry of Education and Culture. (*) Graphic: Arief Rahman