27 July, 2011

EDUCATION I: FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PERSON (FRP)

What is education?

Education means providing knowledge. Education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, and values from one generation to another.

Our children are our future. They are the next generations after us. They are the next keepers of co-existence. Our children need to be taught about money and investments because they just don’t get that kind of education.

Teachers are only educationist and they are not fully responsible for our children success. They are paid to teach our children with basic educational needs as provide within the government educational system.

Dayak should not wait for education to come to them. Instead they should search and acquire more educations to enhance their knowledge.

The responsibility of teaching our children falls on us as parents. However, therein lies the problem. How many adults know anything about investments (perlaburan/ngelabur)?

The most common comments I hear are as such;
  • “Enda aku nemu nama utai nya”
  • “Bakani ngereja utai nya”
  • “Dini bulih utai nya?”
  • “Nama utai ASB nya uchu?”
  • “Dini ngiga belanja nyakol ka anak dom?”
  • “Besai endar belanja kena nyakol ka anak ngagai universiti kemaya ari tu”
  • “Badu nuan sekol endu manah agi nuan belaki aja, ila gawa ba dapur meh nuan nya”
Why should we?

It’s not a required class in school the same way BM, ‘sejarah’, literature, mathematics or other subjects are required.

To move forward, we must create continuous awareness and educate our society of “Financially Responsible Person” (FRP). Such “FRP” education is very necessary especially to Dayaks (urban, suburban or rural and/or remote).

This can be seen from the fact that there is a rise in jobless, poverty, bankruptcies, credit card debt, homeless, underdeveloped, lack of financial resource, lack of capital, hopelessness, etc.

As a society or as Dayak, we are not responsible financially and the small percentage of us who are, for the most part, had to learn this on our own (accidentally, ‘no choice’ and through life experience). Therefore, the question is why are we this way and how do we Change?

Investing money is not always about getting rich, although that can be a side benefit. Investing is about being smart and responsible. With that responsibility come the requirements to educate ourselves, as well as, our children.

Our parents may have taught us to save our money and put it in the bank. That is good but it is not enough and carries its own risks.

Teaching our children to save is only the beginning. We should teach and guide them, not necessarily the minute details of investing, but the “value of investing”, the “value of seeking professional help” and the “value of sourcing capital”, and other value like investing in legitimate financial products and/or “value of leveraging” their investments.

Some people are content to invest on their own but the majority does not have the time or resources for this.

Introduce to your children the “value of money, saving and investing” for their tomorrows. Coach and/or guide them and encourage them to ask questions.

In any event, education is important and it starts at home with the parents. Find time, spend time and educate your children. They will thank you for it later and you will be a proud parent if your children success with many flying color.

“Anak sapa ti pandai nya wai?” – “Anak sanu wai”

RECOMMENDATION: Dayak should think of setting up “Dayak Education Secretariat” (preferably non-political platform) to advocate Dayak Education Quality & Development Program.


Thank you.

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