ADB to help develop Islamic education

JAKARTA: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing a project to improve the standard of education of Islamic schools (madrasah) in Indonesia through a technical assistant grant package worth US$1.2 million, cofinanced by the Australian government.

"The resources of the madrasah system could be harnessed more effectively than at present in national efforts to expand access to basic and senior secondary education among girls, hard-to- reach groups and in rural areas," ADB education specialist Wendy Duncan said in a press statement.

The focus of the project will include improvements in teaching and learning resources, the provision of financial and academic support for disadvantaged children, and improved management.

There are around 38,500 madrasah across the country with 5.7 million students, or 13 percent of the country's total school population. Over half of madrasah students are girls. -- JP