No need to ban study abroad: Juwono

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education Juwono Sudarsono contradicted President B.J. Habibie at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, saying there is no need for the government to prohibit young children from studying abroad as the latter had proposed earlier.

Habibie had cited concern of declining nationalism for his notion. But on Wednesday, Juwono pointed out that a study conducted by his ministry concluded the sending of children to study abroad could eventually benefit the nation in anticipating the globalization.

"Based on a study on several aspects of students studying abroad, it can be concluded, from legal, education, globalization and economic aspects... the current policy still can be maintained,," Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus quoted Juwono as telling the President during the meeting.

"There is no need to restrict them to study abroad," Juwono said at Bina Graha presidential office.

In the cabinet meeting last month, the President ordered Juwono to study the possibility of preventing parents from sending their young children to study abroad. He suggested that only young adults should study at overseas universities.

Habibie, who spent his time as a youth in Germany, argued students must study here. He said students who study abroad might lose their sense of nationalism.

Many people were angered with Habibie's idea and said Habibie should hold an introspection before making such a statement because he spent most of his formative years abroad.

"In response to the minister's report, he (Habibie) said there was no need then to make such a ban, but (the President) asked (Juwono) to appeal to parents to take care of their own children," Yunus noted. (prb)