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.