Junior high school let down by Egyptian minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 400 junior high school students in
\nnational dress or uniform were disappointed yesterday after their
\nguest of honor, Egyptian Minister of Education Hussein Kamel
\nBahaa Eldin, failed to show up.<\/p>\n
Students of South Jakarta's SMPN 13 had broken their long
\nvacation to greet the Egyptian minister, only to learn much later
\nthat he would not arrive.<\/p>\n
No one at the Egyptian embassy was available to comment on the
\nincident but a staffer, requesting anonymity, said that such a
\nprogram was normally prepared by the minister's Indonesian hosts
\nand that it was their duty to inform those concerned of any
\nchanges.<\/p>\n
The minister is in town for the Qualification Asia 1997
\nsymposium on vocational education.<\/p>\n
The Head of the Ministry of Education and Culture's Jakarta
\noffice, Sri Surono Sumarto, who was to have escorted the guest of
\nhonor, informed the students and their teachers that he too only
\nlearned of the change of plan yesterday morning.<\/p>\n
\"I hope you're not too disappointed. We truly appreciate all
\nyour efforts,\" Sumarto said.<\/p>\n
A brief cultural performance by students intended for the
\nminister was played before Sumarto.<\/p>\n
The students turned up as ordered at 8.30 a.m., but were only
\ntold of the cancellation just before 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
According to the program sent by the Ministry of Education and
\nCulture, Minister Husein should have visited the school to
\nobserve Indonesian curriculum.<\/p>\n
On June 20, before the vacation, the school asked first and
\nsecond grade students to attend the school yesterday.<\/p>\n
Some were asked to come in national dress and take part in
\ncultural performances.<\/p>\n
\"I spent Rp 50,000 on her dress and another Rp. 20,000 on
\nmakeup,\" said Mrs. Rohamah Karim, whose daughter wore a Bengkulu
\ntraditional outfit.<\/p>\n
Students Ena and Dian said they had rehearsed a traditional
\nNorth Sumatra dance with eight other friends.<\/p>\n
\"This is such a waste,\" a disappointed teacher said.<\/p>\n
The school's principal, Tetty Harahap, tried to console
\nstudents and staff. \"At least we did our best to welcome the
\nminister,\" she said. (35)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/junior-high-school-let-down-by-egyptian-minister-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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