Govt praised for education budget rise
Govt praised for education budget rise
JAKARTA (JP): Words of praise from legislators and an
education expert poured in when the government announced it had
prioritized education in the 2002 draft state budget.
"I am very happy to learn of the government's commitment and
hope it will help improve teachers' welfare," Marwah Daud
Ibrahim, a member of the House of Representatives Commission VI
on human resources, said on Friday.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri said in her speech at a House
plenary session on Friday that the government planned to allocate
some Rp 11.6 trillion (US$1.28 billion) of its development
expenditure for education. It accounts for 24.7 percent of total
development spending.
Of the budget for routine expenditure, education will receive
Rp 4.5 trillion. In total, education is allocated Rp 16.1
trillion in the proposed 2002 state budget.
Megawati said the larger allocation would be used to improve
the quality of education and school facilities across the
country, especially for the poor and refugees.
Speaking to journalists after the announcement of the draft
budget, Marwah supported the President's remarks, saying that
more attention should be given to poor students and displaced
children.
"Improving education facilities and providing scholarships for
poor students should be included in the main agenda of the
government," Marwah of Golkar Party faction said.
She underlined the importance of strictly controlling fund
disbursements so as to prevent any irregularities.
Legislator Ali Masykur Moesa of the National Awakening Party
(PKB) considered the decision positively, saying it indicated
that the government intended to take into account people's
interests.
"However, we have to remember that such a policy will burden
state finances, and may have a negative effect in the long term
because our country is still in crisis and badly in need of
steady economic growth," Ali said.
The results of a survey by Hong Kong-based Political and
Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), released on Sunday, reveals
that Indonesia has the worst education system among 12 researched
countries in Asia. Indonesia comes last, after Vietnam.
Besides improving teachers' welfare, Commission VI chairman
Anwar Arifin stressed that the government should prioritize its
effort to ensure the availability of sufficient books for
students instead of building schools.
"Teachers' welfare and ensuring the availability of books for
students have to be conducted simultaneously. The government
should not sacrifice them, just for the sake of building new
school buildings," he told The Jakarta Post.
Words of praise also came from education expert Seto Mulyadi,
who underlined the importance of listening to what was said by
"stake holders" in national education, which includes teachers,
students' parents and the students themselves.
"Let them give input to the government over what they really
need regarding education. The government should listen to them
before making any decision on the allocation of the budget," Seto
told the Post.
He said that input could be gathered through the newly
established education commission led by former education minister
Fuad Hassan.
He said the commission was formed by people who cared about
national education and always strived to improve the system.
(09/dja)