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For some, the notion of a businessman running a company for
profit and at the same time a school for charity might seem odd.
Not so for James Riady, chairman of the Lippo Group of companies and
the Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation.
James has taken over from his father and group founder, Mocthar Riady,
and now manages Lippo's sprawling business group, which covers
everything from financial services to property and multimedia.
Though known as a businessman, he insists he is not in the field of
education for the money.
Although Pelita Harapan is known for its prestigious campuses and high
tuitions, James says the foundation will remain true to its social
mission to better the country.
"Education is not a business for me. But we have to admit that quality
education is expensive, and schools must be run in a business-like
manner -- as an industry -- to maintain that quality."
"Education is the basis for nation-building. It can, through developing
a nation's human resources, improve the nation's welfare, and this is
how my family and I can contribute to that."
With the foundation's plan to establish a total of 10 prestigious
schools, 100 schools for students from middle-income families and 1,000
schools for lower-income students throughout the country, James' words
should be taken seriously.
The Pelita Harapan Foundation currently runs four schools -- in Pluit
and in Lippo's three satellite cities surrounding Jakarta: Karawaci,
Cikarang and Bukit Sentul -- as well as a university in Karawaci.
Having provided numerous scholarships through the foundation and its
schools, James' efforts have already received public acclaim, and he
was recently awarded an honorary doctorate from La Trobe University in
Melbourne, Australia, for his achievements as a businessman and in
developing education in Indonesia.
Explaining further his vision of "quality education", James discussed
the need to reestablish several values that have been undermined in
today's education system.
"An education system should not just instruct and teach students how to
work, do business and make money."
"What's needed now is an education system that focuses on the learning
process, and one that enables every child to develop to their full
potential."
James supports the government's vision to provide a quality education
for all citizens, but says private sector participation is necessary
because of the government's still limited ability to provide such an
education for all its people.
He says many Indonesians still cannot afford a quality education, and
notes that many teachers colleges in the country have become ordinary
universities at a time when Indonesia needs qualified teachers.
The Pelita Harapan Foundation intends to set up several teachers
colleges.
"We must, for this, first reach a consensus on how important a new
system of values in education and human capital development is for the
nation," James said.
"If we have reached this, then we will be willing to spend more for
such a quality education, with everyone also chipping in to develop
better education in the country."
James threw himself into philanthropy at a rather difficult time for
him personally and for the Lippo Group.
"I was so absorbed by my work, that I become self-centered, forgetting
my relationship with my wife, my family and the community," James said.
The Lippo Group was also struggling to get back on its feet after the
1997 Asian financial crisis, and James was dealing with a political
donation scandal involving then U.S. president Bill Clinton.
"I was somewhat in ruins, I felt an emptiness, nothing else to look
for. But then I started seeing things like never before. In particular,
I saw Asia, including Indonesia, has such a huge potential to develop
its welfare, but there is still such a disparity in terms of education
and health."
That was when James ventured into education through the Pelita Harapan
Foundation.
James, however, says he will remain active in running his family's
business, particularly consolidating Lippo's group of companies.
But still, he says he gets more enjoyment now out of his involvement in
education.
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