Susilo slams schools that scrimp on 'idealism'

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed concern on Monday about the growing number of private schools, many of which allegedly put profit before quality of education for their students.

"My expectation is that private schools in Indonesia can maintain the ideal to raise the education standard of our people, not just raise money from the students. I urge them to keep such idealism alive," Susilo said during the National Education Day commemoration at a school for mentally challenged children in South Jakarta.

The President acknowledged, however, that there were a lot of private schools that "upheld idealism", but their existence was threatened by financial difficulties.

"The government will help those kinds of private schools to continue to operate by providing them with financial assistance," pledged Susilo.

State schools have been hit hard by the Asian financial crisis, which occurred back in 1997, as the cash-strapped government failed to allocate sufficient budget money for education.

The lack of money is the reason given for the decline in the quality of facilities at state schools, prompting parents in large cities to send their children to private schools, which offer better teaching methods and facilities.

During the ceremony, Susilo also ceremonially initiated the construction of 300 schools and reconstruction of 14,000 schools throughout the country at a cost of some Rp 18 trillion (US$1.9 billion).

The projects are expected to be financed by grants, soft loans and the state budget.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission X for education and social affairs, Herry Akhmadi, suggested that the government issue educational bonds to finance the construction and rebuilding of schools.

"I think the cutting of the fuel subsidy to help enhance the quality of our education is just not enough. The government should come up with a breakthrough where, for example, it issues bonds to pay for school facilities," said Herry.

This year, the government has allocated some 9 percent of the state budget, nearly Rp 26 trillion, for education. The amount remains far lower than the 20 percent called for in the Constitution.

The government said it expects to be able to meet that requirement by 2009, with the allocation estimated to exceed Rp 70 trillion.

Herry said that during the revision of the 2005 state budget, the House would urge the government to fulfill its pledge to provide free education for elementary students in exchange for the fuel subsidy cut.

Susilo also said he had ordered Minister of Education Bambang Soedibyo to improve education facilities for disabled students in order to provide them with equal opportunities.

Bambang said his ministry had initiated what has been termed, "inclusive programs" aimed at facilitating students with disabilities in regular schools by providing them with special facilities and treatment.

In observance of the education day, the United States announced it had awarded two contracts valued at $90 million to improve local government and community management of schools and to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools.

Participatory budgeting and planning for education services and capacity-building for school committees, as well as strengthening in-service teacher training and teacher development in key subjects such as math and science would be the major focus of the programs, the U.S. Embassy said.