Father's role in family important

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja yesterday said that a father's role in bringing up children is similar to a mother's role.

Children must be properly educated and exposed to the right knowledge to ensure that Indonesia can progress in the future. This can't be done by a mother alone, the governor said in his opening speech at a one-day seminar on a man's role.

Surjadi also told the 300 participants, including his wife, that men must also allow their wives to expand their capabilities outside of the home.

Mrs. Surjadi echoed her husband's remarks and noted that family roles must be proportionately distributed between husband and wife in order to let women better themselves outside their houses.

The former city military commander Maj. Gen. AM Hendropriyono and Yaumil Agoes Achir from the State Ministry Office of Population also spoke at the conference. (bsr)