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)