Appeal to education minister

Appeal to education minister

The prolonged economic crisis has lowered people's per capita
income, causing an increase in the poor and a sharp increase in
the number of dropouts, from elementary schools to high schools
and universities.

There is still a long way to go before the national economy
fully recovers from Indonesia's ongoing crises. I now call upon
the Minister of National Education to be mindful of the fate of
students hailing from poorer income groups.

We hope the education minister in the new Cabinet of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri will take the necessary reform measures,
like purging the education ministry of officials involved in
corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), including those who
have leaked examination papers in the past to junior and senior
high schools.

The other important issue is the use of luxury textbooks, not
only in senior and junior high schools, but also in elementary
schools. Why should such luxury books with expensive paper be
used in elementary schools?

Of course, some parents can't afford to provide expensive
textbooks for their children as the economic crisis has lowered
their purchasing power. It is really illogical to oblige school
children to use luxury textbooks in a developing country like
Indonesia.

We can follow India's example where students get cheap
textbooks because they use cheap paper and ink.

The most important thing of course is the content and not the
physical quality, though the provision of cheap textbooks would
be helpful for students.

By providing cheap textbooks, the government gives greater
opportunity to the younger generation to master science and
technology for the sake of the nation's future.

SOEDARTO

Jakarta