Minister Yahya lobbies for bigger education budget

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin said on Tuesday his office would intensify its lobbying of related institutions as well as the House of Representatives (DPR) to increase the budget allocation for education.

"(Vice President) Ibu Megawati revealed that education was allotted the largest portion in the proposed state budget. But it remains too small compared to our actual needs and our proposal," Yahya said on the sidelines of the opening of Indonesian Language Month drive here.

"We must thank God for what we receive, mustn't we?

I've strived to convince Bappenas (National Development Planning Board) and the Ministry of Finance of the importance of education," Yahya said.

In the proposed state budget presented by Megawati Soekarnoputri before the House on Monday, the government expects Rp 243 trillion (US$28.5 billion) revenue in the next fiscal year. Of the amount, some Rp 7.3 trillion, or 3.3 percent, will be allotted to develop culture and education.

The Ministry of National Education earlier proposed a Rp 25 trillion (US$2.9 billion) education budget for 2001. The current nine-month budget allocated Rp 11 trillion for education.

"We have no choice but to make the best of the budget. Our main priority is to improve the quality of our teachers and the welfare of the educators," Yahya said.

"I will negotiate this with the DPR, especially Commission VI, which as far as I know has a strong commitment to this. I hope we can increase the budget a little bit," he added.

Yahya said he also expected to receive some of the Rp 800 billion saved from the reduced fuel subsidy.

"I'll never lose faith. I'm always optimistic, so let's push for a bigger education budget together," he added.

Former minister of education Fuad Hasan, who served between 1985 and 1993, shared Yahya's view.

"An adequate education budget has been a long battle here for years. Every administration had its own excuse not to make education a priority.

"So we have no choice but to use the existing budget to improve the quality of elementary and secondary education because basic science and education is crucial for children," Fuad said.

Noted poet and educator Taufik Ismail, however, said the government had no choice but to make education a main priority.

"We have to save this generation. If the government can easily give loans to businessman, why not to education? It is our nation's future and considerable investment," he said. (edt)