ADB to help develop Islamic education

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