Regional officers to get education in Singapore

BANDUNG, West Java: Civil servants of the public administration offices in regional areas will be sent to Singapore to get training on how to deal with the implementation of regional autonomy.

Chairman of the Indonesian Provincial Administrations Association (APPSI) Nuriana said the training would give broad perspective and experience to the apparatus.

Nuriana made the statement after signing in a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Institute of Commerce (SIC) here on Thursday.

Those joining the overseas training to be commenced on November are officers of the first and second echelons from across Indonesia. Governors excluded from this program.

On first phase, the association will send secretaries to public administration from 32 provinces in the country.

SIC Director Kanmappan Chettiar said the training program will proceed for seven days.

"We have three schools and one dormitory that can accommodate 500 people. They will stay in the dormitory to reduce their spending," said Harry Quek, an operational staff.

Harry confirmed the cooperation of the two institutions was planned for a long term. But the probation period will take two years. "We hope we can educate about 60 officers each month," he said.

The training will include governance management, management system of garbage, immigration management, and forest management. The participants will also join trip to see public facilities in Singapore.

Both Nuriana and Harry, however, refused to disclose the fund needed to finance the program. "We just want to share our experience," Harry said.

Nuriana meanwhile said the program would be funded by both parties. "The governors provide airplane ticket and all facilities will be provided by SIC," said Nuriana, who is governor of West Java. (yuli tri/08)