"Expert Teachers of Mathematics" Talk About, Indonesian Mathematical Educational Achievement

Many people tell "The quality of education in Indonesia", especially in the subjects of mathematics, is still low. Many of these opinions menukung data, such as:

**UNESCO data show, the ratings are in the row of mathematics Indonesia 34 from 38 countries. So far, Indonesia still has not been able to escape from the bottom row of the inhabitants of the board.

**Results of research teams Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that Indonesia ranks number-nine of the 41 countries in the category of mathematical literature. Meanwhile, according to research, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS), which was a little older, which was in 1999, mathematics Indonesia is ranked 34th of 38 countries (UNESCO data).

Yet if we look deeper, according to a study conducted by the TIMMS which also published December 26, 2006, the number of hours of mathematics teaching in Indonesia, far more than Malaysia and Singapore. Within a year, eighth grade students in Indonesia had an average of 169 hours of math. While in Malaysia only got 120 hours and 112 hours of Singapore.


But in reality, the achievement Indonesia is far below the two states. Indonesian students' math achievement only through the average score 411. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Singapore reached 508 605 (400 = low, medium = 475, height = 550, and 625 = advanced). It means "Time spent Indonesian students at the school is not comparable with the achievements.

Indeed we can not blame anyone for that matter, but clearly many factors that affect the low achievement in mathematics. One of them challenged the majority of questions are given a mathematics teacher in Indonesia is too rigid. Generally, students in Indonesia, more work on the problems that are expressed in language and mathematical symbols are set in a context that is far from the reality of everyday life.

As a result, students often feel bored and think of mathematics as an unpleasant lesson. They were not able to apply the theory in school to solve problems in everyday life.

Instead here I want to become an expert in mathematics education, mathematics teacher but it's time to open a new paradigm in the patterns of mathematics teaching in the classroom. This means that math education will be better if it was given with a mathematical approach to reality.

Using everyday examples of cases is expected to raise students' awareness of the importance of mathematics in daily life. So will be encouraged to increase student motivation to learn mathematics.

And, most importantly, it's time to bring student teachers the importance of mathematics in daily life. If I may say "Math is important. Without mathematics, the world will be destroyed. Mathematics can be used to pray in this country and can help Indonesia out of crisis conditions, including in environmental issues.

However, the key, mathematics should not only be used as a tool to calculate. Mathematics should be used in such a way as to be really useful for life and it must be inculcated in the minds of students from the beginning.

So do not be, a generation of students fear mathematics repeated. 'However, in addition it is important to improve mathematics achievement in this country that suffer, love of students toward math also important to take this country towards a better future. "

Additionally, students must also be delivered to view the beauty of mathematical formulas. Thus, in the future not only encouraged students to memorize the formula, as happens now.

"If the students have understood the beauty of mathematics, its students will love math. Not impossible, habits of Indonesia as a follower in the world of mathematics, it takes a maker. "

Remove bulkhead

However, besides the reality of life approach, in practice, Indonesia has also had to revise the adopted concept of mathematics education.

"Today, every level of education has a bulkhead, bulkhead which is difficult to penetrate. Between levels of education with each other as if walking on the tracks are different, do not go hand in hand. "

In fact, the Indonesian education system should be like a train. Schools should be a carriage, with the department of education as the locomotive. The advantage, every level of education has broad access so there is no limit to the mutual support, both in terms of educational facilities and infrastructure.