Mega inaugurates navigation school

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri opened Asia's most modern and biggest navigation school in Marunda, North Jakarta, on Friday.

Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar said the school, situated on a 32-hectare site in Marunda, North Jakarta, aimed to meet the demand for qualified people in the maritime sector.

"We realize that we have to create suitably qualified human resources in facing competition," Agum said.

The school, funded with loans from Japan, has a laboratory, simulator, computer, swimming pool to international standards and other supporting facilities.

The new school brings the number of state-owned navigation schools to nine. On top of that, there are currently 114 maritime schools run by the private sector.

"We shall also strive to help private schools," Agum said, without elaborating. -- JP