U.S. extends free milk program for RI students<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian and United States governments
\nsigned on Thursday an agreement to provide an extra US$14 million
\nin grant aid for the funding of another two years of the School
\nMilk Project in five provinces across Java, an official said.<\/p>\n
Under the program, free milk will be provided for some 470,000
\nelementary school students in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, West Java
\n(including Banten), Central Java and East Java, the director of
\nthe Center for Physical Development at the Ministry of Education,
\nSoeharto, said.<\/p>\n
A student will receive milk three times a week, he added.<\/p>\n
The agreement was signed by the Minister of National Education
\nYahya Muhaimin and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert S.
\nGelbard. Minister of Health and Social Welfare Achmad Sujudi,
\nU.S. envoy to the United Nations George McGovern and Roosminnie
\nEmil Salim of the Yayasan Bina Putra Sejahtera, the executive
\npartner in the School Milk Project, also attended the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, President Abdurrahman Wahid received
\nMcGovern (center, photo above) and Gelbard at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
In the first two-year program, the U.S. donated 5,000 metric
\ntons of milk powder valued at nearly $7 million.<\/p>\n
During the 1999\/2000 academic year, the program covered over
\n400,000 elementary students in nearly 2,500 schools throughout
\nJava, ambassador Gelbard said.<\/p>\n
\"This past year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture signed
\nanother agreement providing 8,500 metric tons of milk powder,
\nenough to extend the program for two years, plus 10,000 metric
\ntons of wheat to be used for the production of fortified
\nbiscuits. The total value of this agreement is US$20 million,\"
\nGelbard said in his address.<\/p>\n
Reports, however, said that some obstacles had been
\nencountered during the implementation of the program, such as the
\nabsence of a milk-drinking habit among Indonesian children.<\/p>\n
\"The school milk scheme is aimed at providing the pupils with
\nadditional nutrition. We do not wish to change their meal
\npreference,\" said ambassador Gelbard, replying to questions
\nconcerning the fact that some students in the scheme had refused
\nto drink the milk.<\/p>\n
Minister Sujudi admitted that this problem was widespread.<\/p>\n
\"In Boyolali (Central Java), milk is wasted due to
\noverproduction, although in reality it is easy to train children
\nto like milk. It depends on the teachers. If they do it together
\nin a fun way, their students will follow,\" Sujudi said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-extends-free-milk-program-for-ri-students-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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