The 2nd of May commemorates the birth of Ki Hajar Dewantara, the pioneer of education for native Indonesians. To honour his deeds, the 2nd of May is named Indonesian National Education Day.

Here are few facts about the famous day.

1. Real Name
Ki Hajar Dewantara is not actually his real name. His real name is Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat which he changed into Ki Hajar Dewantara in 1922.

2. Taman Siswa
Ki Hajar Dewantara is the founder for Taman Siswa School, an institution that provided education for commoners, which otherwise was limited to the Javanese aristocracy and the Dutch colonials.

3. Tut Wuri Handayani
He coined the famous proverb Ing ngarso sung tulodo, ing madyo mangun karso, tut wuri handayani. Which translates: “(for those) in front should set an example, (for those) in the middle should raise the spirit, and (for those) behind should give encouragement”.

4. Minister of Education and Culture
In the 1950s, Ki Hajar Dewantara was appointed as the first Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture in the first cabinet of the Republic of Indonesia.

Ki Hajar Dewantara advocates that education should be based on humanity, freedom and the right to seek knowledge, which rings true to us in Indogro Institute as we strive to give the best education to our students and clients.

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