More kindergartens needed for 11 million children
More kindergartens needed for 11 million children
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education is set to
launch a nationwide "kindergarten-for-all" program in a bid to
help some 11 million children between three and six years old
attend preschool, starting in January.
"Eighty percent of the country's population are living in
villages. And only a small number of children have the chance to
go to kindergarten," Director General of Basic and Middle Level
Education Indra Djati Sidi said on Friday.
According to 1999 ministry data, the country has a total of
41,420 kindergartens -- some 80 percent of which are managed by
private sectors -- with 1,583,467 pupils.
"We need at least 200,000 kindergartens nationwide for at
least 11 million children between the ages of three and six years
of age," he said.
The basic concept of preschool or kindergarten is playing, he
said.
"The lessons must be very simple for this age group and
therefore the school is not meant to be expensive."
The program allows local communities as well as private
sectors to open kindergartens in their respective neighborhoods
under the supervision of the local office of the Ministry of
Education.
"The standards are set by the ministry. We don't have to wait
for an infrastructure, such as having buildings built. People can
use the existing village hall (Balai Desa) to start this," Indra
said.
The teachers do not necessarily have to be preschool teaching
graduates, he said.
"In some cases, university students can help these children.
This is part of the national education strategy to elevate the
quality of human resources," he said.
At the kindergarten level, children are taught about
solidarity and friendship and they begin to interact with their
natural environment, he added.
"In the context of regional autonomy, each region will have
free reign over developing its own culture. Children in
kindergarten can learn about traditional games, food as well as
flora and fauna," he said.
Children's memories are sensitive and therefore it would be
easy for children to learn about moral studies through daily
practice, Director for Preschools and Elementary Schools
Darmastuti Sutrisno said.
"We are trying to urge people to develop the kindergarten-for-
all program.
"Private sectors who wish to build a preschool must have the
proper foundation documents, the list of the founders, the list
of teachers and students and their identity.
"They also have to submit the list of equipment and school
material available, the programs to be run and documents that
state their willingness to oblige to the existing regulations,"
Darmastuti said. (edt)