U.S. grants RI US$157m to improve education<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United States signed on Monday two agreements to provide
\nUS$468 million in development funds to Indonesia over the next
\nfive years, the largest assistance package ever signed by the
\ntwo countries.<\/p>\n
The agreements were signed in a ceremony attended by U.S.
\nAmbassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce and acting coordinating
\nminister for people's welfare Abdul Malik Fadjar.<\/p>\n
In the first agreement, the U.S. will provide $157 million to
\nimprove the quality of basic education in both public and private
\nschools, while in the second, it will extend $236 million, along
\nwith $75 million in food assistance, for health, nutrition, water
\nand the environment.<\/p>\n
\"This $157 million program will target the delivery of quality
\neducation in grades one to nine,\" said acting mission director of
\nthe U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Jon D.
\nLinborg.<\/p>\n
Boyce said the assistance would include all types of schools,
\nincluding pesantren and madrasah.<\/p>\n
\"And it (the program) was formulated not only with the advice
\nand input of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Religious
\nAffairs as well, but also civic groups such as NU and
\nMuhammadiyah,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Linborg said by cooperating with local counterparts the grant
\nwas expected to provide the tools and knowledge to deliver
\neffective school administration, quality teaching and learning
\ntechniques and junior high equivalency programs.<\/p>\n
The grant was a realization of an educational initiative
\nannounced by U.S. President George W. Bush when he met President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri last year.<\/p>\n
\"The United States today is deepening its partnership with the
\ngovernment of Indonesia in committing resources toward Indonesian
\npriorities in improving quality and availability of basic human
\nservices provided to those most in need,\" said Linborg.<\/p>\n
Malik said the assistance would be focused in the main on some
\ncritical regions, such as Ambon, Aceh and Papua.<\/p>\n
\"Nearly one in three Indonesians still lack access to, say,
\naffordable drinking water. Diarrhea is still the second highest
\nkiller of children under the age of five,\" said Boyce.<\/p>\n
Other problems mentioned were reduced public funding, higher
\ncosts of schooling, lower family incomes, a decline in the
\nquality and standard of education and an increase in student
\ndrop-out rates.<\/p>\n
\"Government services today reach millions of users from Aceh
\nto Semarang, over to Papua, but there are still common challenges
\nin management, in fiscal and in administrative areas,\" said
\nBoyce.<\/p>\n
\"The United States demonstrates its commitment to work with
\nIndonesians as partners in assuring that the next generation is
\nready and able to continue to make Indonesia prosperous and
\nhealthy in the future,\" said Linborg.<\/p>\n
This partnership will be conducted in cooperation with local
\ngovernments, non-government organizations, the private sector.<\/p>\n
\"The reason we are signing this agreement is to reflect that
\nmany, many tasks must be accomplished in order to make the future
\ncome out in a positive way,\" said Boyce.<\/p>\n
\"The signing today is the official reflection of our ongoing
\nassistance that is already in place... Obviously we have changed
\nthe content of it since reformasi and since demokrasi,\" said
\nBoyce.<\/p>\n
\"And today with the complete advice and input of experts from
\nthe Indonesian side we have a new approach to assistance for
\nIndonesia, which is focused very much on health and education --
\nvery much on investment in the future of Indonesia,\" said the
\nambassador.<\/p>\n
\"Education and health are the two keys to a nation's success,\"
\nsaid Linborg.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-grants-ri-us157m-to-improve-education-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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