Govt praised for education budget rise<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Words of praise from legislators and an
\neducation expert poured in when the government announced it had
\nprioritized education in the 2002 draft state budget.<\/p>\n
\"I am very happy to learn of the government's commitment and
\nhope it will help improve teachers' welfare,\" Marwah Daud
\nIbrahim, a member of the House of Representatives Commission VI
\non human resources, said on Friday.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri said in her speech at a House
\nplenary session on Friday that the government planned to allocate
\nsome Rp 11.6 trillion (US$1.28 billion) of its development
\nexpenditure for education. It accounts for 24.7 percent of total
\ndevelopment spending.<\/p>\n
Of the budget for routine expenditure, education will receive
\nRp 4.5 trillion. In total, education is allocated Rp 16.1
\ntrillion in the proposed 2002 state budget.<\/p>\n
Megawati said the larger allocation would be used to improve
\nthe quality of education and school facilities across the
\ncountry, especially for the poor and refugees.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after the announcement of the draft
\nbudget, Marwah supported the President's remarks, saying that
\nmore attention should be given to poor students and displaced
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
\"Improving education facilities and providing scholarships for
\npoor students should be included in the main agenda of the
\ngovernment,\" Marwah of Golkar Party faction said.<\/p>\n
She underlined the importance of strictly controlling fund
\ndisbursements so as to prevent any irregularities.<\/p>\n
Legislator Ali Masykur Moesa of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) considered the decision positively, saying it indicated
\nthat the government intended to take into account people's
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
\"However, we have to remember that such a policy will burden
\nstate finances, and may have a negative effect in the long term
\nbecause our country is still in crisis and badly in need of
\nsteady economic growth,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
The results of a survey by Hong Kong-based Political and
\nEconomic Risk Consultancy (PERC), released on Sunday, reveals
\nthat Indonesia has the worst education system among 12 researched
\ncountries in Asia. Indonesia comes last, after Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Besides improving teachers' welfare, Commission VI chairman
\nAnwar Arifin stressed that the government should prioritize its
\neffort to ensure the availability of sufficient books for
\nstudents instead of building schools.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers' welfare and ensuring the availability of books for
\nstudents have to be conducted simultaneously. The government
\nshould not sacrifice them, just for the sake of building new
\nschool buildings,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Words of praise also came from education expert Seto Mulyadi,
\nwho underlined the importance of listening to what was said by
\n\"stake holders\" in national education, which includes teachers,
\nstudents' parents and the students themselves.<\/p>\n
\"Let them give input to the government over what they really
\nneed regarding education. The government should listen to them
\nbefore making any decision on the allocation of the budget,\" Seto
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
He said that input could be gathered through the newly
\nestablished education commission led by former education minister
\nFuad Hassan.<\/p>\n
He said the commission was formed by people who cared about
\nnational education and always strived to improve the system.
\n(09\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-praised-for-education-budget-rise-1447893297",
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