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)