Pendidikan Sebagai Proses Memanusiakan Manusia

Abstract

In the modern era, education is often narrowly interpreted as merely a means to produce intellectually capable and materially successful individuals. However, the true essence of education should not only be to sharpen intelligence but also to humanize. This paper presents a critical reflection on the gap between the ideal goals of education and the realities observed in practice, referencing a statement by a member of the Baduy tribe who questioned the fundamental purpose of schooling. The widespread occurrence of corruption involving highly educated individuals illustrates that education focused solely on cognitive development, without character building, can produce individuals who harm society. Therefore, education must be redefined as a holistic process that not only transfers knowledge and skills but also cultivates moral values, empathy, and social responsibility.