Tan Malaka As A People's Educator In “SI Semarang Dan Onderwijs”

Abstrak

Tan Malaka was not only a political revolutionary but also a people's educator who viewed education as a means of liberation from colonial oppression and intellectual domination. This article examines his educational thought through two primary works, SI Semarang dan Onderwijs (1921) and Madilog: Materialisme, Dialektika, Logika (1943). Using the historical method and a library research approach, this study analyzes the historical contexts, educational principles and methods, epistemological foundations, continuity of vision, and contemporary relevance of Tan Malaka's pedagogical thought. The findings indicate that SI Semarang dan Onderwijs developed a model of people's education based on popular orientation, self-reliance, collectivism, the balance between intellectual development and manual skills, and dialogical and contextual learning that rejected mechanical memorization. Meanwhile, Madilog provided an epistemological foundation for critical thinking through materialism, dialectics, and logic, challenging mystical modes of thought that hindered intellectual emancipation. Despite being written more than two decades apart, both works reflect a consistent vision of education as a pathway to genuine independence. Tan Malaka's pedagogical legacy remains relevant to contemporary Indonesian education, particularly in promoting critical thinking, educational inclusivity, and the emancipatory principles reflected in the Merdeka Curriculum.