Improve education, orders President

Improve education, orders President

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto warned yesterday Indonesia's all-out effort to catch up with industrialized countries will flop unless the country develops quality education.

The President said that although Indonesia has made remarkable progress in education over the past three decades, the sector is yet to pass the stumbling blocks.

"The world will regard us Indonesians only if we have professional skills and master science and technology," he said when opening the annual workshop of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Soeharto warned that in this era of increasing liberal economy, Indonesia's readiness to enter the global competition will be dictated by its ability to bolster productivity.

"We will have to take the challenge by sustaining the development of education and culture," the President said.

On hand were Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandi.

In the past, Indonesian education focused on equal education opportunities. However, now that most Indonesians are literate the time has come for Indonesia to emphasize quality, Soeharto said.

The Soeharto administration's achievement in developing education has won international recognition.

The workshop began on Sunday and will close today in the rainy town of Bogor, 60 kilometers south of here. The 386 officials taking part in the meeting discussed the education and culture ministry's 1996/1997 working programs. (pan)