[PRESS RELEASE] DIGITALK #54: “TANTANGAN TRANSFORMASI DIGITAL BAGI PLATFORM PENDIDIKAN”

CfDS YouTube Channel, December 14th, 2022 – The COVID-19 pandemic has implicated the learning process’ effectiveness at various education levels. Students and academics are then forced to adapt to technology. The Center for Digital Society examines this matter, through Digitalk #54: “Digital Transformation Challenges for Education Platforms”. This discussion was attended by two speakers, which are Muhammad Perdana Sasmita-Jati Karim (CfDS Researcher) and Yoshua Yanottama, B.Ed., S.Pd. (Senior Education Manager at Cakap), and moderated by Elshaddai Hosanna (CfDS Community Outreach Assistant). Digitalk #54 can be accessed again via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfVX0NYt93o. 

Education in Indonesia During the Pandemic: How Ready Are We?

At the beginning of Digitalk #54, Perdana Karim invited the audience to contemplate Indonesia’s readiness to face digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the main issues is that there have been drastic changes in the world of education, such as the obligation to perform online educational activities. Students and academics are forced to adapt themselves in using technologies (devices and gadgets), including their supporting software. Then, this reality presents various challenges and obstacles.

First, internet provider services consumption issues. According to a survey from APJII, by 2020, around 77.02% of Indonesia’s entire population has used the internet. Even so, the majority of them rely more on cellular data and have not yet subscribed to the ‘internet at home’ service (wifi).

Second, related to the distribution of technology infrastructure. Internet users in Indonesia majorly own tablets/smartphones rather than PCs/laptops. This indicates a ‘compulsion’ in adapting oneself in the midst of digital transformation, which is caused by economic inequality. In fact, many students in Indonesia do not have personal gadgets yet.

Last but not least, the lack of digital literacy levels in Indonesia. The majority of educators in Indonesia are not yet proficient in understanding digital culture, digital skills, digital ethics, and digital safety.

“Indonesia’s journey to achieve maximum digital transformation is still far away. However, there have been many initiatives from the government and the community which need to be intensified,” said Perdana Karim to end his discussion session.

Challenges of Digital Transformation for Education Development in Indonesia

The discussion was continued by Yoshua, which he started with an introduction to the Cakap platform. This edutech service is a pioneer of online foreign language learning applications, which have succeeded in introducing an effective and fast way to learn foreign languages.

Furthermore, Yoshua explained the importance of using educational technology to prepare Indonesia in facing digital transformation. The educational technology must include 3 elements: learning management system, learning experience platform, as well as learning and performance management. In addition, it is necessary to increase edutech developers in order to maximise the education’s digital transformation in Indonesia.

The challenges of digital transformation in Indonesia’s education system include: ‘resistance’ to change, lack of public willingness (potential consumers) to pay for services from edutech firms, low digital literacy, and lack of equity in digital infrastructure. Indonesia is still underdeveloped in terms of adopting technology in education. Moreover, this country still needs qualified and professional educational human resources. Not forget to mention that the education system in Indonesia is still very traditional.

In responding to all these challenges, edutech firms are urged to innovate and develop themselves; By focusing on giving impacts, providing qualified professional educators, are ready to adopt novel technologies, and setting digital ecosystem standards.

“The government should start moving to collaborate with edutech firms in working together, in order to accelerate digital transformation for education in Indonesia,” as concluded by Yoshua.

Writer: Allysa Putri Rendry
Editor: Firya Q. Abisono