KBRN, Ende: Every year on May 2, Indonesians celebrate the National Education Day, a tribute to the legacy of Ki Hajar Dewantara, the visionary educator whose dedication reshaped the nation's approach to learning, rri.co.id reported.

As the father of the Indonesian education, his tireless efforts laid the foundation for a system that empowers minds and nurtures progress. This commemoration serves as a reminder of his enduring influence and the vital role education plays in shaping the future.

Born on May 2, 1889, in Yogyakarta, Ki Hajar Dewantara's ideas continue to resonate within the national education system to this day. He established the Taman Siswa school in 1922 as a form of struggle through education for the Indonesian people. This school provided access to education for indigenous communities, which was then restricted by Dutch colonial policies.

To this day, when Indonesians observe the National Education Day, they invariably acknowledge Ki Hajar Dewantara, an irreplaceable figure. His birth name was Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat. He hailed from the noble Pakualaman family in Yogyakarta. Despite his aristocratic background, he lived a simple life and fought for the people through education and his writings.

Before entering the world of education, he actively wrote for media outlets such as De Express and Oetoesan Hindia, voicing social critiques. His writings were sharp yet respectful, addressing issues of inequality and injustice towards the native population.

Ki Hajar's contributions to education also shaped the resistance against colonial regulations such as the Wilde Scholen Ordonnantie (Wild Schools Ordinance), which was a regulation introduced by the Dutch East Indies government in 1932 to control private schools that operated without government oversight. The ordinance required non-subsidized schools to register with authorities and obtain permits before opening.

Ki Hadjar Dewantara strongly opposed this policy, arguing that it unfairly restricted education for indigenous Indonesians. Many saw it as an attempt to limit access to education and suppress nationalist movements. Through the Taman Siswa movement, he instilled the spirit of nationalism through a curriculum based on culture and independence.

Recognition of his struggle came with his appointment as Minister of Education in the early years of Indonesia's independence. Subsequently, the government designated May 2 as the National Education Day, as a remembrance of his services.

In 1959, Ki Hajar Dewantara was awarded an honorary doctorate by Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. In the same year, he was declared a National Hero by the Republic of Indonesia.

Ki Hajar Dewantara died on April 26, 1959, and was laid to rest in Taman Wijaya Brata, Yogyakarta. His legacy in education endures and remains the foundation of Indonesia's education system today. ***