Govt seeks to raise education standards<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian and Australian officials met here on Thursday to
\ndiscuss ways to raise educational standards in the country and
\nadjust qualification yardsticks to meet requirements in the two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo said the
\nprogram, discussed at the Indonesia-Australia Joint Work Group
\n(JWG) meeting, could help Indonesian schools achieve
\ninternational standards, which is part of the government's
\neducation reform plans.<\/p>\n
He said the Australian educational framework, which serves
\nboth the national and state standards in that country, could also
\nbenefit Indonesia's education decentralization plan in line with
\nregional autonomy legislation.<\/p>\n
\"In the spirit of decentralization, democratization and
\nregional autonomy, we have set our priorities, of which the
\nhighest is to raise national standards of education that can
\nbecome a stepping stone to those recognized internationally,\"
\nBambang added.<\/p>\n
The previous JWG exchange programs, started in 1996, focused
\non decentralization management, vocational education, special
\neducation, policy issues, forestry and marine resources.<\/p>\n
\"The JWG will contribute significantly to the development of
\neducation in both countries. Indonesia, with various challenges
\nof development in a multicultural context, will surely offer
\nample opportunity to Australia.\" said Bambang, adding that
\nAustralia could learn from Indonesia about the implementation of
\nmulticulturalism in a more complex setting.<\/p>\n
Proposed projects for 2005 include collaboration between the
\ntwo countries' Vocational Education and Training (VET)
\ninstitutions, known as Vocational High Schools (SMK) in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
English language training, leadership and management for
\nprincipals and curriculum reform are among other ideas proposed
\nby Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesian students have contributed significant economic
\nbenefits to Australia over the years. Some 24,000 Indonesian
\nstudents pursuing their studies in the neighboring country
\nrepresent the fourth largest group of international students
\nthere, bringing in about Rp 2.5 trillion (AUS$ 500 million) in
\n2004 for the country.<\/p>\n
Australia aspires to gain mutual recognition of education
\nqualifications and quality in both countries, according to Fiona
\nBuffinton, the head of Australian Education International at the
\nAustralian Embassy in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the Australian education systems can be useful for
\nIndonesia,\" she said.(005)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-seeks-to-raise-education-standards-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}