Prof. Ng Aik Kwang dari University of Queensland, dalam bukunya "Why Asians Are Less Creative Than Westerners" (2001) yang dianggap kontroversial tapi ternyata menjadi "best seller" (www.idearesort.com/trainers/T01.p) mengemukakan beberapa hal tentang bangsa-bangsa Asia yang telah membuka mata dan pikiran banyak orang:

1. Bagi kebanyakan orang Asia, dalam budaya mereka, ukuran sukses dalam hidup adalah banyaknya materi yang dimiliki (rumah, mobil, uang dan harta lain). Passion (rasa cinta thdp sesuatu) kurang dihargai. Akibatnya, bidang kreatifitas kalah populer oleh profesi dokter, lawyer dan sejenisnya yang dianggap bisa lebih cepat menjadikan seorang utk memiliki kekayaan banyak.

2. Bagi orang Asia, banyaknya kekayaan yang dimiliki lebih dihargai daripada CARA memperoleh kekayaan tersebut. Tidak heran bila lebih banyak orang menyukai cerita, novel, sinetron, atau film yang bertema orang miskin jadi kaya mendadak karena beruntung menemukan harta karun, atau dijadikan istri oleh pangeran & sejenis itu. Tidak heran pula bila perilaku koruptif pun ditolerir/ diterima sebagai sesuatu yg wajar.

3. Bagi org Asia, pendidikan identik dengan hafalan berbasis "kunci jawaban" bukan pada pengertian. Ujian Nasional, tes masuk PT dll semua berbasis hafalan. Sampai tingkat sarjana, mahasiswa diharuskan hafal rumus-rumus iImu pasti dan ilmu hitung lainnya bukan diarahkan untuk memahami kapan dan bagaimana menggunakan rumus-rumus tersebut.

4. Karena berbasis hafalan, murid-murid di sekolah di Asia dijejali sebanyak mungkin pelajaran. Mereka dididik menjadi "Jack of all trades, but master of none" (tahu sedikit sedikit tentang banyak hal tapi tidak menguasai apapun).

5. Karena berbasis hafalan, banyak pelajar Asia bisa jadi juara dalam Olympiade Fisika, dan Matematika. Tapi hampir tidak pernah ada orang Asia yang menang Nobel atau hadiah internasional lainnya yg berbasis inovasi dan kreativitas.

6. Orang Asia takut salah (KIASI) & takut kalah (KIASU). Akibatnya sifat eksploratif sebagai upaya memenuhi rasa penasaran dan keberanian untuk mengambil resiko kurang dihargai.

7. Bagi kebanyakan bangsa Asia, bertanya artinya bodoh, makanya rasa penasaran tidak mendapat tempat dalam proses pendidikan di sekolah

8. Karena takut salah dan takut dianggap bodoh, di sekolah atau dalam seminar atau workshop, peserta jarang mau bertanya tetapi selesai sesi berakhir peserta mengerumuni guru / narasumber utk minta penjelasan tambahan.

Dalam bukunya Prof.Ng Aik Kwang menawarkan beberapa solusi sbb:

1. Hargai proses. Hargailah org karena pengabdiannya bukan karena kekayaannya.

2. Hentikan pendidikan berbasis kunci jawaban. Biarkan murid memahami bidang yang paling disukainya

3. Jangan jejali murid dgn banyak hafalan, apalagi matematika. Untuk apa diciptakan kalkulator kalau jawaban utk A x B harus dihapalkan? Biarkan murid memilih sedikit mata pelajaran tapi benar-benar dikuasainya

4. Biarkan anak memilih profesi berdasarkan PASSION (rasa cinta) pada bidang itu, bukan memaksanya mengambil jurusan atau profesi tertentu yang lebih cepat menghasilkan uang. MENJADI DIRI SENDIRI

5. Dasar kreativitas adalah rasa penasaran berani ambil resiko. AYO BERTANYA!

6. Guru adalah fasilitator, bukan dewa yang harus tahu segalanya. Mari akui dgn bangga kalo KITA TIDAK TAU!

7. Passion manusia adalah anugerah Tuhan..sebagai orangtua kita bertanggung-jawab untuk mengarahkan anak kita untuk menemukan passionnya & mendukungnya.

Prof. Ng Aik Kwang from the University of Queensland, in his book "Why Asians Are Less Creative Than Westerners" (2001) is considered controversial but it turned out to be a "best seller" (www.idearesort.com/trainers/T01.p) suggested a few things about the nation -bangsa Asia which has opened the eyes and minds of many people:

1. For most Asians, in their culture, a measure of success in life is the amount of material that is owned (houses, cars, money and other possessions). Passion (love thdp something) underappreciated. As a result, the field of creativity less popular by professional doctors, lawyers and the like are considered to be faster to make a For much wealth.

2. For Asians, the amount of property owned more appreciated than HOW acquire such property. No wonder that more and more people like stories, novels, soap operas, or movie themed poor people become rich quick as lucky to find the treasure, or used by the prince and his wife like that. Not surprisingly, when a corrupt behavior was tolerated / accepted as something that is natural.

3. For Asian org, synonymous with rote-based education "answer key" instead of understanding. National examinations, tests entrance PT etc. all based rote. Until the undergraduate level, students are required to memorize formulas and arithmetical iImu certainly other is not directed to understand when and how to use these formulas.

4. Due to rote-based, students in schools in Asia crammed as many lessons. They are trained to be a "Jack of all trades, but master of none" (know a little bit about a lot of things but master of none).

5. Because of rote-based, many Asian students could be Olympic champion in Physics, and Mathematics. But hardly anyone who won the Nobel Asia or other international prizes that based innovation and creativity.

6. Asians fear of being wrong (analogous) and fear of losing (kiasu). Consequently explorative nature as an effort to meet the curiosity and courage to take risks underappreciated.

7. For most Asian nations, asking it means stupid, so curiosity has no place in the educational process in schools

8. For fear of wrong and fear of being stupid, in school or in a seminar or workshop, participants rarely want to ask but finished the session ends participants gathered around the teacher / speaker For additional clarification requested.

In his book Prof.Ng Aik Kwang offer some solutions as follows:

1. Respect the process. Respect org for his service not because of his wealth.

2. Stop the answer key based education. Let the students understand the field he likes

3. Do not jejali students with many rote, especially mathematics. For what created a calculator that responses to A x B must be memorized? Let students choose subjects slightly but really mastered

4. Let your child choose a profession based PASSION (love) on the field, not pressure them to take certain professions majors or faster to make money. BE YOURSELF

5. Basic creativity is curiosity dare to take risks. AYO ASK!

6. The teacher is a facilitator, not a god who should know everything. Let's admit proudly if WE DO NOT KNOW!

7. Passion man is a gift Tuhan..sebagai our parents responsible for directing our children to find passionnya & support.