New schools to open on education day

New schools to open on education day

JAKARTA (JP): The celebration of this year's National
Education Day on May 2 will be centered in Pontianak, West
Kalimantan, with President Soeharto presenting awards and opening
new schools.

West Kalimantan Governor Aspar Aswin, after meeting with
President Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace yesterday, said the
educational Widyakrama awards would be presented to nine regents,
mayors and other regional leaders who have made outstanding
contributions to the development of education.

Soeharto will also launch National Book Month during the
ceremony, which will be held at the local sports stadium, Aswin
said.

"The President is expected to deliver a speech on the `Family
literacy-awareness movement' planned by the National Family
Planning Board, and further promote the nine-year compulsory
education program," he announced.

Indonesia extended its compulsory education from six to nine
years last year. To begin with, the project was implemented in
selected areas having adequate facilities and resources.

Soeharto will inaugurate several projects during his visit to
West Kalimantan, including the Rp 6.5 billion (US$2.9 million)
Supadio Airport, the Rp 2.5 billion Pontianak state Technical
Secondary School and the Rp 13.8 billion Melamo and Tawan Tiga
bridges, all of which are government funded, and the Rp 6.2
billion and $3.3 million Ketapang highway.

Soeharto will also open the Taruna Bumi Katulistiwa Technical
Secondary School, a private-funded institution which costs some
Rp 6 billion.

Aswin said a short production depicting the people's efforts
in improving human resources through the nine-year compulsory
education project will be staged by the Bali Dancing Academy
during the ceremony. (pwn)