East Timor teachers alloted Rp 5m each<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has allocated Rp 5 million
\n(US$610) for each teacher who has fled East Timor, Minister of
\nEducation and Culture Juwono Sudarsono said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on informal education,
\nJuwono said his ministry was listing those who deserve the fund.<\/p>\n
He anticipated, however, that the long process to complete the
\nlist would arouse public suspicion of a misuse of funds.<\/p>\n
\"We have to resort to making a list so we won't be accused of
\nwasting money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
More than 11,000 teachers from the troubled province were
\nevacuated to East Nusa Tenggara, including 7,500 primary school
\nteachers, according to East Timor's education and culture office.<\/p>\n
They were among thousands of refugees who fled the violence in
\nEast Timor following the announcement of the Aug. 30 referendum,
\nin which the majority rejected the government's offer of wide-
\nranging autonomy.<\/p>\n
Many of the teachers are still out of work.<\/p>\n
Juwono acknowledged that the ministry is short of funds. It
\nhas about Rp 10 billion, or a shortage of at least Rp 53 billion
\nto cover all the costs.<\/p>\n
For teachers stranded in the western half of Timor island, the
\ngovernment is planning to set up emergency schools and provide
\nfunds for operation as well as transfer some teachers to existing
\nschools.<\/p>\n
\"We will treat proindependent and proautonomy teachers as
\nIndonesian citizens until the status of East Timor is decided on
\nin the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR).<\/p>\n
In regard to the worsening relations between Indonesia and
\nAustralia, he said he received complaints from some Indonesian
\nstudents studying abroad who have suffered intimidation and
\nterror from Australians following the referendum in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, he said he asked the
\nAustralian minister of education to guarantee the security of
\nIndonesian students in Australia.<\/p>\n
\"I asked the Australian government to do their best to ensure
\ntheir safety, especially in public places,\" he said.<\/p>\n
There are about 6,000 Indonesian students in Australia now,
\nwhich is down from 8,000 before the crisis.<\/p>\n
Juwono said East Timorese students who are continuing studies
\nin Indonesia have the opportunity to finish their studies, and
\nfor those whose activities were suspended and forced to leave,
\nthey would be given shelter.<\/p>\n
All three universities in East Timor have stopped running.
\n(06\/44)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-teachers-alloted-rp-5m-each-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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