8.5 million children drop out, face school dropout this year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An estimated 8.5 million children of elementary
\nand junior high school age in Indonesia have either already
\ndropped out or are likely to drop out of school this year, the
\nNational Movement of Foster Parents Foundation (GN-OTA
\nFoundation) revealed on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Foundation's chairperson Inten Soeweno said that \"most of
\nthese children are victims of the prolonged crisis and riots
\nwhich have hit the country in recent years\".<\/p>\n
Her remarks, made during a briefing with representatives of
\nlocal administrations, were also aimed at attracting public
\nattention and sponsorship for the plight of Indonesia's young.<\/p>\n
\"The number of foster parents has dropped sharply since the
\ncrisis and we badly need help to save these children. They at
\nleast have to pass elementary education so they can read, write
\nand count,\" said Inten, who was minister for social welfare from
\n1993 to 1998.<\/p>\n
First established in 1996, the Foundation's work focuses on
\ncollecting and updating data regarding poor and uneducated
\nchildren, which is then distributed to foster parents who can
\nfinance their education.<\/p>\n
\"We have accurate data on these children. The data is free of
\ncharge and we will gladly let the foster parents select the
\nchildren they wish to help,\" Inten said.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, if you come from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and
\nwish to help children from the same home town, you can contact us
\nand follow the existing procedures to make sure that the foster
\nchildren you pick are the right ones,\" she explained.<\/p>\n
There are already up to 3.5 million children of school age on
\nthe waiting list in the Foundation's data bank.<\/p>\n
The Foundation's latest data shows that the number of
\nparticipating foster parents -- comprised of companies,
\nfoundations, societal groups and individuals -- has slowly
\ndwindled from 2,471 in 1996 to a mere 154 last year.<\/p>\n
The total number of funds raised in the past five years amount
\nto Rp 96.727 billion.<\/p>\n
According to Inten, the cost of sponsoring a foster child is
\nRp 60,000 per year for elementary school aged children and Rp
\n90,000 for junior high school.<\/p>\n
\"In terms of funds disbursement, there will be no direct
\ntransactions between the GN-OTA officers and the children. It
\nwill be directly transferred through the bank, in this case we
\nare using BRI, to be given to the child,\" she said, adding that
\nin areas without a nearby bank the money would be channeled
\nthrough the school's headmaster.<\/p>\n
Information on becoming a foster parent can be obtained by
\ncalling (021) 3900900 or through the Internet at www.gn-
\nota.or.id.<\/p>\n
\"As for children in refugee shelters we opted to give them
\nmaterials such as cloth and other necessities. A total of 179,600
\nyards of cloths has been given to 89,900 children in eleven
\ndisputed provinces. Each child gets two yards of cloth,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Recent Ministry of National Education data shows that about
\n7.5 million children within the school age are not enrolled in
\nschool. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/85-million-children-drop-out-face-school-dropout-this-year-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}