RI, Australia to forge accord on education
RI, Australia to forge accord on education
JAKARTA (JP): Senior Indonesian and Australian officials met
yesterday to develop a cooperation program in relation to
education and vocational training.
The recent diplomatic tiff over Jakarta's appointed ambassador
to Australia did not appear to have any effect on the proceedings
or the atmosphere.
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, who
helped launch the two-day conference, said the education
cooperation program between the two countries would go on.
"There is no connection between the case of the Indonesian
ambassador and the cooperation in vocational training," he said.
Saying that the problem of the current absence of an
Indonesian ambassador to Australia was a matter for the two
countries' foreign ministries to resolve, Wardiman added that the
decision of the Indonesian government earlier this month to
withdraw Ambassador Mantiri was not at all similar to the policy
adopted by Jakarta in 1992, when, after a diplomatic row, it
refused to receive any further financial or other aid from the
government of the Netherlands.
At that time several educational programs financed by Dutch
aid were badly affected.
Wardiman, accompanied by Australia's Minister for Schools,
Vocational Education and Training Ross Free, held a joint press
conference yesterday after they officially opened the conference
on "Education and Training for Industry Growth" at the Jakarta
Convention Center.
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief also attended the
meeting.
The conference is being attended by 400 participants,
comprised of officials and professionals from Australia and
Indonesia.
Seventy speakers are scheduled to present their views on
training in the tourist, mining, engineering, building and
construction and telecommunications industries.
"The conference is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding of
the policy program in vocational training, building industrial
networks, identifying future practical cooperative action, as
well as facilitating industrial linkages," Free said.
To support the cooperation program, Free opened last night the
office of the Australian International Education Foundation.
The mission of foundation, an agency of the Australian
government, is to encourage the contribution of Australian
education and training providers to global intellectual, cultural
technological and economic growth.
Wardiman said the conference, a follow-up to last year's
meeting, was important in developing Indonesia's resources.
He said that, in the coming era of economic interdependence,
trade between any two countries would need qualified and highly
professional personnel.
Canberra has already provided various scholarships for
Indonesian teachers and students to study in Australia.
During the past five years the Australian government has been
extending financial aid to Indonesian vocational institutions.
In the provision of Australian aid, priority has been given to
Indonesia's less-developed eastern regions.
The total number of Indonesian students studying in Australia,
including those who pay their own tuition fees and lodging, is
approximately 13,000. (03)