Government commits to expanding access to education

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom), Syahganda Nainggolan, said the government was committed to expanding access to education by providing infrastructure as well as school learning programmes.

“The government has worked hard, including the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, but these various efforts have not been communicated effectively to the public,” Syahganda said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said the public needed a comprehensive understanding of the government’s efforts, from improving the quality of learning and strengthening teachers’ roles to building infrastructure that makes it easier for children to get to school.

The success of education development is determined not only by programmes delivered in classrooms, but also by the government’s ability to address the barriers people face in accessing education, particularly in remote areas.

He said one clear sign of the government’s commitment to equal access to education was its effort to extend learning opportunities to villages.

However, educational equality cannot be achieved simply by providing learning programmes and teaching staff. Adequate infrastructure is also essential, particularly for children living in areas with challenging geography.

“For example, bridges have been built to connect remote villages that were previously separated by rivers. These bridges have made it easier for residents, particularly children, to go to school,” he said.

He said education infrastructure development required collaboration across ministries. Support for facilities and infrastructure should go hand in hand with policies to improve the quality of learning so that communities can directly benefit from development.

As well as access to schools, Syahganda highlighted the importance of attention to teachers’ welfare.

He said government support through allowances and various forms of assistance for teachers was an important part of efforts to strengthen the education sector.

“The government has shown tremendous concern for teachers’ welfare, through allowances and various other forms of assistance. This support is provided to teachers who are registered as state civil servants (ASN) and those who are not,” Syahganda said.

He said he believed quality education was one way for people to improve their standard of living.