Govt seeks to raise education standards

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian and Australian officials met here on Thursday to discuss ways to raise educational standards in the country and adjust qualification yardsticks to meet requirements in the two countries.

Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo said the program, discussed at the Indonesia-Australia Joint Work Group (JWG) meeting, could help Indonesian schools achieve international standards, which is part of the government's education reform plans.

He said the Australian educational framework, which serves both the national and state standards in that country, could also benefit Indonesia's education decentralization plan in line with regional autonomy legislation.

"In the spirit of decentralization, democratization and regional autonomy, we have set our priorities, of which the highest is to raise national standards of education that can become a stepping stone to those recognized internationally," Bambang added.

The previous JWG exchange programs, started in 1996, focused on decentralization management, vocational education, special education, policy issues, forestry and marine resources.

"The JWG will contribute significantly to the development of education in both countries. Indonesia, with various challenges of development in a multicultural context, will surely offer ample opportunity to Australia." said Bambang, adding that Australia could learn from Indonesia about the implementation of multiculturalism in a more complex setting.

Proposed projects for 2005 include collaboration between the two countries' Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions, known as Vocational High Schools (SMK) in Indonesia.

English language training, leadership and management for principals and curriculum reform are among other ideas proposed by Indonesia.

Indonesian students have contributed significant economic benefits to Australia over the years. Some 24,000 Indonesian students pursuing their studies in the neighboring country represent the fourth largest group of international students there, bringing in about Rp 2.5 trillion (AUS$ 500 million) in 2004 for the country.

Australia aspires to gain mutual recognition of education qualifications and quality in both countries, according to Fiona Buffinton, the head of Australian Education International at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

"Some of the Australian education systems can be useful for Indonesia," she said.(005)