Germany to rebuild schools in Aceh

Germany to rebuild schools in Aceh

JAKARTA: Representatives from a joint mission involving the
German Development Bank (KfW) and German Agency for Technical
Cooperation (GTZ), signed a memorandum of understanding on
Thursday with the Ministry of National Education on a 23 million
euro (US$30 million) grant facility to help rebuild vocational
schools in Aceh and North Sumatra.

"We chose to prioritize the rebuilding of vocational schools
first as this will help provide the life skills that the Acehnese
need," GTZ representative Dieter Moll said, adding that grants
would be provided later for junior high and elementary schools.

The German team, together with the ministry, has identified 12
vocational schools, both in Aceh and North Sumatra, in need of
reconstruction. During the early stages, it intends to focus on
three vocational schools in Banda Aceh, which will be built as
centers of competence and teacher training.

"This program will begin in May and will be completed in
2009," the ministry's director general of elementary and
intermediate education, Indra Djati Sidi, said.

Aside from rebuilding vocational schools, the German program
will also involve the building of two special schools in Banda
Aceh. -- JP