EULC and Reading Materials: Some Notes

Sunu Wasono
University of Indonesia

Abstract
This paper discusses reading materials and mandatory books in accordance with
Education Unit Level Curriculum (EULC). There are three issues that need to be
underlined. First, EULC gives schools an opportunity to design their own curricula.
EULC must be supported by textbooks such as literary anthologies. Third, the standard of
competence and basic competence stipulated by the National Board of Education
Standard should not be used as the only reference in designing curriculum since it is not
without weaknesses.

Keywords: curriculum, reading materials, textbooks, local content.

/1/
The problems of education, in particular a curriculum, have been an endless
debate for years which still reveals the fact that Indonesian people feel unhappy with the
results of education in Indonesia. In addition, the society expects qualified graduates,
meaning that they must have wide and in-depth knowledge and this is what Mochtar
Lubis recorded in 1989.1
The above expectation of the society has not been fulfilled yet up to the present
time. For that reason, the society has kept on discussing education and the government
has always tried to continuously improve the educational curricula through various
policies although the society never stops reacting and commenting on the policies. As
soon as the policy and change related to that matter take place, the people express their
relevant opinions on their own way. For example, when CBC (Competence-based
Curriculum) was introduced to schools, various comments on the policy from those who
agreed and opposed appeared. “Changing a minister means changing a regulation” is a
common expression we hear from the society. From the scholars, there was a critical
opinion regarding the problem. Drost, a priest and a public figure in education, stated that
CBC did not exist, but a competence-oriented curriculum did. He seems to prefer using
‘oriented’ to the word ‘based’ with his argument that, “ a curriculum as a tool in a
learning process does not have a base, foundation.”2 He further argues that the definition
of CBC is certainly confusing and even questions the word competence itself: Is it for
whom, for teachers or students?3 Regardless the appropriate use of the word or
terminology, CBC has existed. The society has associated this expression with a joke
regarding the abbreviation of C (competence) is changed with C (confusion) and CBC
stands for Confusion-based Curriculum. This shows and even sthrengthens the existence
of CBC itself.4 However, CBC has disappeared or at least the society has forgotten it
temporarily, because at present there is a new curriculum, called EULC (Education Unit
Level Curriculum). This short article discusses literary materials and teaching materials

1
(text books) in connection with EULC. The Competence Standard and Basic Competence
which are some important parts and cannot be separated from EULC will be also focused.
The presentation of KTSP will start the depiction and this will be followed by the
analysis of EULC content, especially that connected to the teaching of literary materials
in Indonesian Language lessons and other books related to EULC. A conclusion and
sound necessary suggestions will end the article.

/2/
EULC is an abbreviation of Education Unit Level Curriculum5 which is actually
an operational curriculum designed and implemented by each school.6 The objectives of
EULC are (1) to improve the education quality through the school independence and
initiatives in developing the curriculum, managing and empowering resources available;
(2) to increase the care of the school and the society in developing the curriculum with a
concencus; and (3) to increase the competition among the education units on education
quality to be achieved.7
The above explanation of the definition and objectives leads us to the point that
each education unit is freely allowed to design its own curriculum in accordance with its
capacity and the curriculum involves the society to actively participate in designing and
developing it. Although the contents of EULC are not totally new – at least the last
curriculum also invited the School Committee in the implementation of the education – it
is undoubtedly clear that there is something new: the school is given a freedom to design
its own curriculum and this did not exist in the previous curricula. A curriculum is usually
a top-down approach and it is an obligation for the schools to implement the policy. The
fact that each school has its own typicality creates obstacles and failure in the
implementation of the curricula.
The freedom given in the EULC should be considered as an opportunity for any
parties involved in the educational processes, in particular those managing the schools.
Therefore, initiatives, ideas, spirit of development, of progress, and of health competition
are highly demanded from the teachers and headmasters. In addition, the society,
reperesented by the School Committee, is required to actively share their ideas in order
that the curriculum can be optiomally achieved.
Generally and theoretically, EULC can be considered great because it consists of
freedom and democracy, but its implementation is still a big question. Good concepts and
ideas are not guaranteed to successfully take place. The successful achievement totally
depends on several factors: human resources, facilities, school athmosphere and many
others. Anything new – in particular a curriculum – takes time for its socialization. This
new curriculum may cause some problems because it demands the change of how people
think and the society must acknowledge the foundation of why this cussiculum must be
implemented. This change is closely related to the political change in Indonesia. After the
New Order regime has collapsed and the governmental systems have changed, we have
entered the reform era. At present, the local governments are desentralized and more
autonomous to manage their own areas. This spirit seems to have taken place in
education, especially in designing and implementing the curriculum and has led local
contents to be in it. The involvement of several elements, for example schools, students’
parents, experts, local cultural offices, and local public figures in designing it can cause a

2
problem if the spirit of the elements has not yet been well. It is true that designing a
curriculum takes time and needs serious attention from the parties involved. It is highly
expected that the elements do not become the pressure groups which finally lead to
unhealthy financial problems, such as bribing.
There are still other two factors that we have to criticize: the officially issued
competence base and basic competence to which each education unit refres. In the
Permendiknas (the Regulation of National Education Ministry) No. 24 in 2006, it is
stated that the basic and middle education units can develop their curricula with the
higher standard than what the government has officially decided. This implicitly has a
minimal standard (of content and school leavers) which must be fulfilled by education
units in designing the curriculum. In other words, the content of the curriculum designed
by each education units have to fulfill the minimal standard officially issued by the Board
of National Education Standard (BNES). It certainly can be a problem if the education
unit provides the curriculum equal to what BNES has decided.
In the context of teaching the Indonesian Language, particularly literary teaching
materials, the competence base and basic competence formulated by BNES have some
weaknesses. If the contents in the EULC are just moved into the curriculum designed by
each education unit without any analytical ideas, what happened to the previous curricula
can occur again, meaning that the students and teachers will face the same content from
time to time. Apparently, what are presented in the Competence Standard and Basic
Competence designed by BNES resembles with those covered in the CBC, and it looks
even more a simplified version of the CBC. From what I have searched, I have not found
anything new there.
The following is one example that I have found regarding the fact that one topic is
discussed several times or unclearly formulated in the Competence Standard and Basic
Competence designed by BNES. First, in the Competence Standard and Basic
Competence, the material for an old poetry is at the level of the fifth year Elementary
School (items 5, 6, 7, and 8) at Semester II. The same material is actually used again at
the level of the seventh year (Junior High School) at Semester I (item 8). In the
Elementary School, the old poetry covers four components (listening, speaking, reading
and writing). In the listening component (Basic Competence Item 5.2), the basic
competence required is that the students are expected to read an old poetry at the children
level with good fluency and correct intonation. The speaking component requires the
students to produce the old poetry with good fluency and correct intonation reciprocally.
In the reading component, the students are required to recite a children poem with good
fluency and correct intonation reciprocally. Finally, the writing component requires the
students to enable them to produce an interseting children poem with various themes
(friendship, perseverance, obedience, and others).
This leads us to the following question: Is it possible that the fourth-year
Elementary School learners can respond producing a children poem reciprocally? As we
know that poetry is originally a product of an oral tradition on the basis of spontaneity
and improvisation to respond to something. In Malay society, poetry is not something
new and this can be seen from the fact that the society –from children to adults – is good
at responding to poetry. What about those who have non-Malay backgrounds? For the
Javanese community, this case is not a big issue because they still have such indigenous
poetry, called parikan. In this written tradition, writing a poem is not something easy to

3
do. Responding to poetry is more serious case. How about the fourth-year Elementary
School learners? I am convinced that the teachers cannot give responds to poetry
spontaneously! Some other questions are as follows: What is actually children poetry? Is
it the one that children create or another about children? Why don’t we just simply use
the word poetry in order to provide choices for the learners? What does reciting poem by
children mean? Practically, it IS difficult to implement the program!
For the Junior High School level, Competence Standard and Basic Competence,
the poetry materials are taught at the fisrt semester (Item 8). The element 8.1 of the Basic
Competence (in the writing component) requires the students to write a poem in
accordance with the standard of writing poetry. If we compare it with what the sixth-year
Elementary School students have to do, it is unquestionably clear that the demand (basic
competence) is much easier because the Junior High students are just required to write a
poem, while the Elementary School students must write, read and respond the poetry
reciprocally.
The above depiction shows that there is inconsistency in designing or deciding
Competence Standard and Basic Competence. Furthermre, why such poetry is taught
repeatedly in both levels? I agree that poetry should be taught at school, but it is not wise
if the same type of poetry is taught in both levels of education because there are still
many other types of literature which are neglected. The material of such poetry has
already filled the slots for other types. Take mantra (magic incantation) which can be
included in a type of old poetry as an example. This as other types, sonnet, ode, is not
included in the teaching materials. Using syair (quatrain) at Junior High School level
(Level IX, semester I, item 5) and gurindam (couplet) at Senior High School (Level XII,
semester 2, item 14) can also be questioned.
The levels of difficulties and types of literary forms should be considered as
important factors. Siti Nurbaja novel, for example, was historically published earlier than
the publication of Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk; however, it does not mean that Siti Nurbaja
should be taught earlier than Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk. Kawan Bergelut is earlier than
Antara Wilis dan Kelud or Robohnya Surau Kami, and Percikan Permenungan than
Balada Orang-orang Tercinta. From the level of difficulties, the earlier forms are more
complicated than the later ones; therefore, it would be wise if the later ones are taught
earlier. In line with this, mantras and old poetry forms can be taught later after the lessons
of rhymes of Sitor Situmorang, Hartojo Andangdjaja, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri or
parodial rhymes of Taufiq Ismail have been discussed.
Discussing Competence Base and Basic Competence implicitly deals with the
core or ‘menu’ for teachers and learners and this leads us to pay attentian of the variety
and presentations. What to eat after the main course should also be considered. At the
level of Competence Standard and Basic Competence at the level of the fifth-year
Elementary Scool students os Semester I, the learners are required to identify the
elements of folklores that they have listened to. At semester II (item 5.2), such
requirement is getting clearer, that is the learners are to identify the elements of a story
(characters, theme, background) and it is possible for the fifth-year Elementary School
students to identify the elements of a story.
The question is whether it is necessary to do because the statements in the
Competence Standard and Basic Competence drive the teachers or book writers to the
literary criticism which can make the students uninterested in literary works, meanwhile

4
reading habits need to be reinforced to them. The Basic Competence should focus on
what makes the learners interested in the story after they have listened to it, rather than
stresses on the understanding of story elements and this will lead them to deal with the
knowledge of the theme, message, charasters and backgrounds hurriedly because this
case is a theory-based approach. They are much better to be introduced to the literary
works, rather than the concepts themselves. Reading habits should be our priority, while
the skills of story analyses can follow it. After the children have enjoyed reading Harry
Potter, they will not try to search for the lessons or values for their lives. Therefore, it
would be a good idea if we let them read the story books as our priority.
Unclear statements are still found in Competence Standard and Basic
Competence. For example, Competence Standard and Basic Competence for the sixth-
year Elementary Students semester I item 4 (writing) states that: “To express ideas,
feeling, and written information in a form, summary, dialogues and paraphrases.” Is it
possible for someone to express his/her ideas or feeling in a form? Isn’t it better if it is
stated to express ideas by creating, designing or completing a form? It will be clearer if it
is presented in the Competence Standard to create or fill in a form.
In another part of the curriculum, a number of sentences or expressions are
considered to be inappropriate. Here are some instances: Understanding a discourse
through the activities of listening to news (Competence Standard and Basic Competence
of the seventh-year educational level, semester 1, item 1), Expressing (sic!) ideas and
feelings through retelling activities (Competence Standard and Basic Competence of the
seventh-year educational level, semester 1, item 6), Expressing thoughts, feelings,
information and experience through responding a story and telephoning (Competence
Standard and Basic Competence of the seventh-year educational level, semester 2,
item10), and others.
Some language problems also appear to be the problems. The word through
should be changed by by in order to avoid confusion. The phrase in the form of which
frequently occurs in the curriculum are sometimes used incorrectly and this can be
changed with through; therefore, the formulation will sound much better.
Another problem raises a question. At the Competence Base (aspects of listening),
it is stated that: “Expressing responds to strory telling”, while at the Competence Base
there are two items, stating that: “Responding to the activities of short story retelling”,
“Explaining the connection of the short story background and social reality” (see
Competence Standard and Basic Competence of the seventh-year educational level,
semester 2, items 14; 14.1; 14.2). The question is what is actually the relationship
between reading a short story and the background of the story?
If we further analyse the curriculum, we will find more and more problems. If
anything in Competence Standard and Basic Competence designed by BNES is used as
the reference, this policy will cause new problems. For that reason, in accordance with
the spirit in the EULC, it sounds wise if each unit level does not totally depend on the
units in the curriculum. If Competence Standard and Basic Competence are used as the
core reference, these must be improved to avoid confusion.

/3/
The curriculum change from CBC to EULC will be equipped with the
availability of a number of related books involving book writers and publishers although

5
EULC does not require the schools to use the books as the teaching materials. What kind
of books matches the EULC? In my opinion, there will be a number of anthologies (short
stories, poetries, dramas, essays, translated works, folks and the list of novels provided by
schools in cooperation with book publishers and experts (editors) in order that the
students can read and appreciate them. Those books will become the teaching and
learning materials for literary subjects at schools and be brought by the students for
classroom discussions with the condition that the books are suitable with the educational
levels.
Different educational levels should have different focuses. For the educational
levels of SD (Elementary Schools) and SMP (Junior High School), the aspects of
enjoyment should be the focus. At the SMA (Senior High School) level, students do not
only enjoy reading the books, but they also have to start discussing certain aspects of
what they have read. They will deal with certain issues in the literary works and then
have to write their opinions and criticisms related to the reading materials. With their
sound adequate reading experience, the students can compare related issues in the literary
works and this will help them to compare how the writers of the works present their
ideas. Various attitudes or certain characters the writers show in the works will gradually
stay in the students’ minds.
The next step is that after they have read the works and understood the models of
essay writing (and of anthology) the students can write their opinions related in the forms
of essays. This will influence the number of literary books at schools that the students and
teachers can read and this will lead to the increase of their reading interests, which will
reach the target to read at least 15 literary books. To maintain the reading interests,
supporting facilities, such as availability of the books at the school library that the
teachers and students can read – as well as well-ordered anthology – are necessary. Cut-
and-paste materials from newspaper and magazines, such as poetries or short stories, can
also be used as learning materials. Other literary works which are limitedly produced by
literary communities anywhere and can be selected and then published as an anthology
for the teachers and teachers can be counted in as other sources for learning activities.
Writers can be invited to school to recite and discuss their works. This activity can be a
medium to introduce local contents, i.e. the human resources potential, so that the slots
for mulok (local contents) is not only filled with indigenous languages or even with
foreign languages, which are actually more of global contents.
The way that the literary teaching and learning activities are proposed can be
applied to how to use language which needs a number of readings is presented. We just
decide what kind of language skills are taught to the learners. If they are expected to be
skillful in writing various letters, copy-writing advertisements, and writing notices,
related anthologies should be prepared for all.
The question with which may come up is the one related to the roles of the
teachers who take a great part in the teaching and learning processes. The most important
thing is the availability of teaching and learning materials. Previously, the headmaster and
teachers have to find textbooks appropriate with the teaching and learning purposes;
however, at the moment the teachers working together with other participants helped by
experts has to find the materials to be well designed as teaching and learning materials.
As classroom facilitators and ‘guide’, the teachers are not supposed to dominate the
classroom activities by presenting theories due to the fact that they are already available.

6
If the students are required to be able to write an invitation letter, the model of the letter
can be just shown, so they can create it according to the model and in language learning,
in particular writing, this imitating activity can be an appropriate way to learn.8 If they are
expected to be able to change the naration in a novel to become a drama text, they are
instructed to learn the model relevant with the learning objective. If they have to play a
role in the novel, they can watch a video about the novel.
When I joined Pusat Perbukuan (the Center for Books, an institution under the
Department of National Education) to evaluate the books proposed to be textbooks for
SMP and SMA, I found many textbooks which consisted of a lot of theories. Prior to the
reading instruction, the book writers describe the basic concepts or various definintions
and then the students are instructed to find the expressions which match the points
previously explained. This presentation has repeatedly appeared in the following parts
and such a presentation does not make students enjoy literary works.
For a better picture, here is an example taken from a textbook for Sekolah
Menengah Kejuruan (Vocational School), Level 1. Prior to the instruction of the lesson to
recite a poem with the title “Pembaringan”, followed by answering a number of
questions, the book writer describes the definitions of poems and their structures, such as
diction, figure of speech, rhythm, typography, meaning and theme, feeling, tone and
atmosphere, and message in depth.9 It is true that such explanations on terminologies are
followed by examples, but that approach will not be effective due to unnecessary
repetitions.
In presenting drama material, the writer of the textbook begins the lesson with the
depiction of what drama and its structure are, for instance, plot (exposition, crisis, climax,
anti-climax, solution and ending), characterization (failed character, favorite character,
antagonist), and dialogue. This presentation is followed by the questions for the learners
to be answered with explanation (definition), for example, plot means …, the importance
of the discussion prior to the performance is …, and so on. The discussion on the drama
focusing on its intrinsic factors like the one of poetry is done on the next step.10
If the explanation on the concept or definition is done by presenting the literary
works, the result will be different. Texts or literary discourse are really different from
other types of texts. Literary texts are imaginative ‘products’ we should know and be
closer to before we analyse them.
A part from what I presented above, I also find some texts (discourses) in a
textbook whose title I forget but it contains a discourse of deconstruction theory In my
opinion this is inappropriate for the first-year of SMP students in semester 1, when they
have just joined the school for several first days. I do not think that material is suitable for
such students. Such cases and others I explained above should be well considered in
designing textbooks in connection with the implementation of EULC. Using the
anthologies of literary works is much better than using textbooks with such presentation
described above.

/4/
The above description leads me to sum up what I have discussed. The first is that
EULC gives a room for any parties connected to the educational field to design and
develop the curriculum in accordance with the strengths of each education unit. In line
with this idea, the Standard Competence and Basic Competence (item D), especially for

7
Indonesian Language, must be reformulated due to its weaknesses. If the Competence
Standard and Basic Competence designed by BNES become the reference, the outcomes
may not be suitable with the one at which EULC is aimed.
What is described in items A, B, dan C has provided a clear picture of how each
education unit designs and develops a curriculum. Therefore, although Competence
Standard and Basic Competence are the references for education units to design a
curriculum, we must realize that the contents of the curriculum designed by each
education unit should not exactly the same as Competence Standard and Basic
Competence designed by BNES. If the Competence Standard and Basic Competence
designed by BNES, and are already issued by the Minister of National Education, are the
references for curriculum design -- meaning that curriculum minimum standard should be
the same as the Competence Standard and Basic Competence designed by BNES, some
revisions should be made to avoid unnecessary confusion.
Since EULC gives opportunities for each education unit to decide the content of a
curriculum, it should be taken that there is no regulation about the standard on the literary
contents to be put in the curriculum. In line with the spirit of EULC, each education level
is free to provide the literary materials as long as the objectives are inaccordance with the
policy issued in item B. From its objective perspectives, any teaching materials given to
the students should aim at enjoyment, spreading horizons, improving ethics, improving
knowledge and language proficiency.
The literary materials, thus, should cover all Indonesian literature and translated
works, while the learning has to be emphasized on literary introductions.The students are
involved in the activities related to literary works according to the coverage of Indonesian
Language (listening, speaking, reading and writing). In other words, the focus is not the
theories of literature, but the literary activities, such as reading (reciting) literary works,
writing literary forms, and responding literary works. The students must not be given too
much literature theories; on the contrary, practical activities (reading and writing) should
be prioritized. For this purpose, a lot of readings must be available.
Textbooks are certainly important, but their presentations should be different. The
textbooks should be anthologies consisting of literary works (short stories, poetry,
dramas) and various types of writings (essays, articles, book reviews, diaries) which the
teachers and students can use at school or at home. The arrangements of literary works
and anthologies should consider the levels of difficulties and be adjusted with the
educational levels. Anthology will be a good material for the students in (learning)
reading, writing and other literary activities.

8
1
Mochtar Lubis, Budaya, Masyarakat dan Manusia Indonesia: Himpunan Catatan Kebudayaan Mochtar Lubis di Majalah
Horison (Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 1992), p. 256.
2
J. Drost, Dari KBK sampai MBS (Jakarta: Kompas, 2006), p. 3.
3
Ibid., p. 9.
4
We don’t only play around with the abbreviation KBK [CBC, ed.], we also mock the abbreviation CBSA (Cara Belajar
Siswa Aktif/Active Learning). In Javanese, it is mocked as Cah Bodho Saya Akeh ‘stupid students increase’.
5
Because culturally we like to play around with abbreviation, it is possible that KTSP [EULC, ed.] will also be played as
Kurikulum Tidak Siap Pakai (the curriculum that is not ready to use), Kurikulum Tanpa Sentuhan Pakar (the curriculum
untouched by experts), or Kurikulum Tak Siapa pun Paham (the curriculum that nobody understands).
6
E. Mulyasa, Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan (Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya, 2006), p. 19-20.
7
Ibid., p.22
8
Ismail Marahimin has applied this method for years to teach writing at FIB UI. This method can also be applied in techers’
workshop held by the Department of National Education. To get further information about this method, see Menulis Secara
Populer by Ismail Marahimin (Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya, 2001).
9
E. Kosasih, Pelajaran Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia (Bandung: Yrama Widya, 2002), p. 41-43
10
Ibid., p. 81