Education budget hike gets thumbs-up<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
An expert and a legislator has welcomed an increase in the
\neducation budget, but urged the government to come up with more
\ndetailed plans on the development of the country's education
\nsector.<\/p>\n
The administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nallocated Rp 21.5 trillion for education in 2005, a 12 percent
\nincrease from 2004's Rp 19.16 trillion.<\/p>\n
That amount, however, is far below 20 percent of the state
\nbudget as mandated by the Constitution. Megawati announced on
\nMonday the 2005 budget proposal of Rp 361 trillion (US$39
\nbillion).<\/p>\n
The President said on Monday the budget would be used to
\ncontinue the implementation of the compulsory nine-year education
\nprogram, the higher education program, and efforts to improve the
\nquality of education and teachers.<\/p>\n
\"The increase is a good signal. The next question is whether
\nthe money is sufficient to develop our education,\" education
\nexpert Arief Rachman told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
Separately, House of Representatives education commission
\nchairman Anwar Arifin also welcomed the increase but stressed
\nthat it would not be enough to make big changes in the country's
\neducation.<\/p>\n
Anwar said that he hoped the education budget could be
\nincreased gradually so that it could reach 20 percent by 2009.<\/p>\n
According to him, the increase in the education budget would
\nbe spent to finance the mandatory nine-year education program for
\nschool children, aged between six and 15 years old.<\/p>\n
The compulsory nine-year education program, introduced in
\n1997, is aimed at reducing the number of street children and thus
\ncurbing crime.<\/p>\n
Arief emphasized that the quality of national education could
\nnot be achieved solely by a budget increase but also through
\nimprovements in the teaching and learning process, the quality of
\nthe teachers and facilities at schools.<\/p>\n
He urged the government to improve the quality of teachers, by
\nproviding for their well-being and upgrading their education, and
\nto improve school facilities to enhance the quality of the
\nlearning process.<\/p>\n
Citing as an example, he said, that a private senior high
\nschool that employed 40 teachers and has 700 students had to
\nspend some Rp 7 billion a year, including a monthly salary for
\nteachers of Rp 4 million each.<\/p>\n
\"Only with those conditions, can we compete with other
\ncountries,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-budget-hike-gets-thumbs-up-1447893297",
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