Commitment to better

Commitment to better education needed

From Suara Karya

The high cost of education in the country has led to a large number of school dropouts, while many others fail to pursue higher education, meaning that good education is only enjoyed by a privileged few.

Therefore, politicians now preparing themselves for seats in government should not only seek the victory of their parties but also commit to the improvement of education -- by struggling for a system that guarantees reasonable school fees within the reach of ordinary people.

In this context, it is worth noting that a former minister at the time of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur's" Wahid's presidency set a good example. As quoted by a Jakarta paper, he said if the region where he came from wanted him to serve as governor, he would strive to provide free education for elementary and secondary students.

Though the statement is yet to be proven, he has started with the awareness that education is a fundamental asset for the advancement of a region. Let us hope his move will be followed by other politicians' commitment to this vital sector.

M. DONK GANIE Jakarta