🇮🇩 Selamat Pagi, Pak Prabowo: The Phoenix Rises—Why Quality Education Is Our New Declaration of Independence

A Weekly Column by Maha Karuna (Great Compassion)

I. A Global Heart and a National Call

Selamat Pagi, Pak Prabowo. I send this greeting from France, where I live as an American citizen, yet my heart remains tethered to the beautiful archipelago I call home. This column, named “Selamat Pagi, Pak Prabowo,” is not written from a distance of judgment, but from a perspective of Maha Karuna—Great Compassion—and an unwavering intention to see Indonesia fulfill its destiny as a world leader.

For 350 years, the shadow of colonial exploitation—namely the Dutch—oversaw an education system designed to produce compliance, not creativity. That history is long past, but its psychological residue—a lingering sense that our potential is somehow limited—persists. We must now counter those three centuries of limitation with a single, clear vision: the rise of the Phoenix country.

This column is dedicated to the belief that the quality of our education system is the most profound Declaration of Independence we can make today. It is the key to unlocking the collective prosperity and abundance of our nation.

II. Education: The Engine of National Sovereignty

Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation. We are a geo-economic giant. Yet, our international metrics—from PISA scores to global competitiveness rankings—do not reflect this magnitude. Why? Because a large population alone does not guarantee a great nation; high-quality, ethical human capital does.

Indonesia is a nation that seeks to be progressive in every sense—socially, culturally, and technologically. This progression requires us to shed any remaining vestige of the “small country” mindset. We must start comparing ourselves not just to regional neighbors, but to the world’s most successful complex nations—the U.S., China, Germany—because we belong in that arena.

The foundation for this ambition is education. It is the only reliable way to:

Ensure Economic Freedom: An educated nation is one that produces technology, not merely consumes it. It is one that sells high-value ideas, not just raw commodities.
Strengthen Social Unity: High-quality education, rooted in the principles of Pancasila, teaches Mental Toughness and Discipline—the very traits required to overcome the political and social divisions we discussed. It teaches the science of unity over the habit of conflict.
Define Cultural Sovereignty: Our schools must empower young Indonesians—the next generation of digital artists and entrepreneurs—to use high technology to preserve and profit from our unique heritage, turning our Dayak and Asmat wisdom into the world’s most coveted digital assets.

III. The Path of Maha Karuna: Building the New, One Step at a Time

My approach, guided by Great Compassion, is simple: We must stop fighting the old problems and focus all our energy on building the new solutions. This column will provide the strategic tools necessary for this transformation, grounded in scientific wisdom and an encouraging, respectful dialogue.

We are not proposing instant, magical solutions. We are proposing process. Over the coming weeks, we will equip every student, teacher, parent, and policymaker with the intellectual and psychological tools to become a high-achieving “Kaizeneer”:

The Scientific Brain: We will introduce Neuroplasticity—the scientific truth that the brain grows with every challenge—to replace the crippling myth of fixed capacity.
The Disciplined Heart: We will redefine Discipline not as punishment, but as the price of freedom, showing how small, consistent steps (the Kaizen principle) are the only reliable path to lifelong financial and intellectual prosperity.
The Ethical Producer: We will advocate for a curriculum that teaches financial literacy and Intellectual Property protection, ensuring our youth are owners and producers, not just consumers of foreign technology.