"The draft bill on culture essentially encourages cultural resilience and helps to shape the character of the nation. Nowadays, most children do not understand their local languages and the culture properly. Hence, cultural resilience becomes the main issue in the law," Director General of Culture of the Education and Culture Ministry Hilmar Farid stated at a national seminar here on Wednesday.
The law is expected to help drive people to bring about innovation based on science and identity.
"The school only provides knowledge. When students master a foreign language, they forget their identity," he pointed out.
In addition, the law was expected to build a society that can face changes, establish cross-cultural communication, and encourage critical thinking.
"Cross-cultural communication is the advanced principle of diversity. Diversity only recognizes the differences," he said.
Meanwhile, Ferdiansyah, chairman of a working unit for the draft bill on culture, stated that cultural resilience would help to build a strong community that will not collapse easily.
He said the law did not restrict cultural activists from expressing their thoughts.
"Freedom of expression will be guaranteed. However, it must be in accordance with the principles of Pancasila," he emphasized.
Discussion of the bill is to implement the mandate of Article 32, paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution on the states role in promoting the nations culture in the midst of the global civilization.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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