Fair to feature education expo

JAKARTA (JP): The upcoming Jakarta Fair will, for the first time ever, feature a large education exhibition aimed at luring rich Indonesian students to study at local schools and universities.

The exhibition will feature both formal and informal educational institutions, said Gito Bantas, president of PT Jakarta International Trade Fair Corporation (JITFC), which manages the annual event.

This year's fair, held in commemoration of Jakarta's 471st anniversary, will last from June 13 through July 12 at the Kemayoran Jakarta Fair Grounds, Central Jakarta.

"We will provide three floors at the fair ground's commercial center for the educational exhibition at a low rate," Gito said as quoted by Antara.

The idea to feature the expo stemmed from the management's concern that many Indonesian students overseas will have to go home because of the soaring costs that parents have to shoulder due to the economic crisis, he said.

The rupiah has depreciated over 70 percent against the U.S. dollar since the crisis began to bite last July.

"The expo will allow potential students to weigh lots of choices before they decide which school, university or course to go to," Gito said. (pan)