Be careful about this. We have long forgotten this. Great mastery of knowledge will also go in vain if our students are not healthy mentally and physicallyJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo stressed that knowledge passed on to students should also be accompanied by ensuring that their mental and physical health remained sound.
“Be careful about this. We have long forgotten this. Great mastery of knowledge will also go in vain if our students are not healthy mentally and physically," the head of state noted during the commemoration of the 77th Anniversary of the National Teacher's Association and National Teacher's Day in Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday.
The president pointed out that in a bid to create superior human resources, the students' physical and mental well-being were often overlooked despite having crucial dispositions.
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The head of state cited an example in terms of physical health improvement, for which efforts must be made to prevent stunting.
"Teachers must see whether they have students, who were stunted. A healthy lifestyle must be introduced early on, and healthy diet and sufficient exercise must also be practiced from an early age," he said.
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The president opined that it was pointless to have vast knowledge and ample experience if the students were not mentally and physically sound. Jokowi noted that physical and mental illness negated the academic achievements, as it was akin to multiplying things with zero.
"Let us say the grade is 10, but if you are constantly sick, then the final score is ten times zero, equal to zero. No matter how smart our students are, if they have a grade point average of four, for example, but are mentally or physically sick, their grade point index is four times zero, it is zero again," Jokowi remarked.
Hence, teachers also have a duty to create superior human resources, with great characteristics or values, as well as be in prime physical health.
"Must be complete. This is a tough task for all ladies and gentlemen," he stated.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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