Education expert from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Prof. Agus Sartono called for the need to strengthen scouting, as it is beneficial in enhancing the lessons of character building for members of the younger generation.
“Scouting activities need to be strengthened, as they support character development from an early age. This is necessary for the youths, who will become the nation’s successors,” Sartono remarked here on Wednesday.
Sartono, who had served as Deputy for Coordination for Education Quality Improvement and Religious Moderation at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, noted that children’s talents will grow and develop well by participating in scouting activities.
“For example, jamboree or camping activities, knot-tying skills, marching, camping, jurit malam (exploring the campsite with eyes blindfolded), art performances on campfire night, nature adventure, and other scouting activities, are full of meaning,” he pointed out.
According to Sartono, these scouting activities will help to develop a positive character, habits, and values of gotong royong (cooperation), leadership, honesty, and tolerance.
“These values are very important to be instilled in children and adolescents,” he stated.
Sartono affirmed that a nation’s development progress largely hinged on today’s efforts to prepare children and adolescents to become a generation possessing good qualities.
“Scouting is a form of investment in children to shape a superior and quality generation,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Femmy Eka Kartika Putri, Deputy for Coordination for Quality Improvement of Children, Women, and Youth of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, said that scout members are Indonesian human resources, who uphold the values of work ethics, collaboration, and unity.
“Scout members will be the nation’s generation of successors, (and they) need to improve the spirit of leadership and be an example for their peers,” she stated.
Source: Antara News