Teachers key to education quality: Swiss minister

Teachers key to education quality: Swiss minister

TANGERANG (JP): Education Minister of Switzerland Hans Ulrich
Stoekling visited the Swiss German University (SGU) campus in
Bumi Serpong Damai housing complex here on Thursday.

In his remarks to a gathering of dignitaries, university
officials and students' parents, Stoekling underlined the
important role of teachers in an educational institution.

"Teachers hold a key role in the education process. Therefore,
they should become the target of improvement in any education
institution," Stoekling said.

The SGU is the first international university in Indonesia
jointly established by the Swiss, German, Australian and
Indonesian governments.

The role of teachers, Stoekling said, is more important than
any hardware owned by an educational institution.

SGU rector Peter Pscheid said, on the same occasion, that
teachers should be treated as professionals. As such, the utmost
attention should be given to their welfare to enable them to
concentrate only on their jobs.

Pscheid said he hoped the Indonesian government would pay
serious attention to teachers, so that the country could improve
its educational system.

SGU has a dual education system, offering courses on both
theory and practical training.

The university recently installed new hi-tech laboratories
for students of mechatronics and information technology, provided
by the German government and German industry.

SGU offers bachelor and masters degree programs in
mechatronics, information technology and business administration.
It has about 200 students. In the near future it plans to offer
hotel and tourism management and applied business languages
disciplines.

During his one-day visit to Indonesia, Minister Stoekling met
his Indonesian counterpart Malik Fajar, State Minister for
Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa, and business community
representatives in Indonesia from Germany, Switzerland, and
Austria. (02/hbk)