Govt sets deadline for 'education for all'
Govt sets deadline for 'education for all'
Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Elis, 14, had to drop out of school after elementary school and
leave her village in Yogyakarta to seek work in Jakarta as a maid
to help support her brothers' schooling.
To that end, Elis, who now works for a family in Rawamangun,
East Jakarta, sends home almost all of her Rp 200,000 monthly
salary.
"In my family, boys enjoy a higher education because they will
become the head of the family," she said.
Elis is following in the footsteps of her two older sisters to
help finance the schooling of her six brothers.
Elis and her two sisters are among 2.1 million children of
seven to 15 years old who were unable to continue their basic
education of up to secondary school this year.
Mohammad Surya, chairman of the Association of Indonesian
Teachers, said it was the government's responsibility to provide
basic education for those children.
Therefore, the government should increase its education budget
so that there are no more children missing out on a basic
education.
"The government must stop buying rifles and guns and providing
ministers with luxury cars. It also must cut expenses for
domestic and overseas travel," he said.
Surya said that the funds would be better spent financing
education for poor children, renovating school buildings that are
in disrepair, buying classroom chairs and books for school
libraries.
It is actually compulsory for all children of between nine to
15 years to go to school.
The government initially targeted to have the compulsory nine-
year compulsory education program fully implemented in 2004.
However, because of the multidimentional crisis, the
government has extended the deadline until 2008, according to
Indra Djati Sidi, director general of primary and intermediary
education at the Ministry of National Education.
"So far student participation in the nine-year basic education
is 73 percent. We hope that by 2008 the program will be fully
implemented," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday
The government is trying to spread the responsibility of
providing basic education to as many parties as possible,
including parents and the community.
According to the bill on child protection submitted by the
government to the House of Representatives, the government,
parents and the community are all obliged to help provide
educational facilities and services to children.
Indra said his office had cooperated with regional
administrations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
community forces to give junior high school lessons in 500
locations in remote areas across the country.
"This way, we don't have to build actual buildings. Just
create learning activities to convey our purposes," he said.
He added that for gifted children whose intelligence was above
average, there was an acceleration program in 50 locations in the
country that enabled them to optimize their talents and
capabilities.
The bill also stipulates that all Indonesian children,
regardless of gender, social status or physical condition, are
included in the nine-year compulsory education system.
Indra said that his office also cooperated with the private
sector to enable disabled children to get a decent education.
Children's rights stipulated in the Child Protection Bill:
1. The government has the responsibility to give free education
to poor or neglected children or those who live in remote areas,
and to encourage the community to participate in the program.
2. Physically or mentally disabled children have the right to the
same opportunities to obtain an education and special education.
3. Gifted children have the right to obtain an education with
special treatment.