Govt sets deadline for 'education for all'<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Elis, 14, had to drop out of school after elementary school and
\nleave her village in Yogyakarta to seek work in Jakarta as a maid
\nto help support her brothers' schooling.<\/p>\n
To that end, Elis, who now works for a family in Rawamangun,
\nEast Jakarta, sends home almost all of her Rp 200,000 monthly
\nsalary.<\/p>\n
"In my family, boys enjoy a higher education because they will
\nbecome the head of the family," she said.<\/p>\n
Elis is following in the footsteps of her two older sisters to
\nhelp finance the schooling of her six brothers.<\/p>\n
Elis and her two sisters are among 2.1 million children of
\nseven to 15 years old who were unable to continue their basic
\neducation of up to secondary school this year.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Surya, chairman of the Association of Indonesian
\nTeachers, said it was the government's responsibility to provide
\nbasic education for those children.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the government should increase its education budget
\nso that there are no more children missing out on a basic
\neducation.<\/p>\n
"The government must stop buying rifles and guns and providing
\nministers with luxury cars. It also must cut expenses for
\ndomestic and overseas travel," he said.<\/p>\n
Surya said that the funds would be better spent financing
\neducation for poor children, renovating school buildings that are
\nin disrepair, buying classroom chairs and books for school
\nlibraries.<\/p>\n
It is actually compulsory for all children of between nine to
\n15 years to go to school.<\/p>\n
The government initially targeted to have the compulsory nine-
\nyear compulsory education program fully implemented in 2004.<\/p>\n
However, because of the multidimentional crisis, the
\ngovernment has extended the deadline until 2008, according to
\nIndra Djati Sidi, director general of primary and intermediary
\neducation at the Ministry of National Education.<\/p>\n
"So far student participation in the nine-year basic education
\nis 73 percent. We hope that by 2008 the program will be fully
\nimplemented," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday<\/p>\n
The government is trying to spread the responsibility of
\nproviding basic education to as many parties as possible,
\nincluding parents and the community.<\/p>\n
According to the bill on child protection submitted by the
\ngovernment to the House of Representatives, the government,
\nparents and the community are all obliged to help provide
\neducational facilities and services to children.<\/p>\n
Indra said his office had cooperated with regional
\nadministrations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
\ncommunity forces to give junior high school lessons in 500
\nlocations in remote areas across the country.<\/p>\n
"This way, we don't have to build actual buildings. Just
\ncreate learning activities to convey our purposes," he said.<\/p>\n
He added that for gifted children whose intelligence was above
\naverage, there was an acceleration program in 50 locations in the
\ncountry that enabled them to optimize their talents and
\ncapabilities.<\/p>\n
The bill also stipulates that all Indonesian children,
\nregardless of gender, social status or physical condition, are
\nincluded in the nine-year compulsory education system.<\/p>\n
Indra said that his office also cooperated with the private
\nsector to enable disabled children to get a decent education.<\/p>\n
Children's rights stipulated in the Child Protection Bill:<\/p>\n
1. The government has the responsibility to give free education
\nto poor or neglected children or those who live in remote areas,
\nand to encourage the community to participate in the program.<\/p>\n
2. Physically or mentally disabled children have the right to the
\nsame opportunities to obtain an education and special education.<\/p>\n
3. Gifted children have the right to obtain an education with
\nspecial treatment.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-sets-deadline-for-education-for-all-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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