U.S. to provide money for education

JAKARTA: U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce reiterated on Thursday his government planned to provide US$157 million to strengthen the quality and capability of public and religious (pesantren) schools here.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Boyce denied suggestions that the assistance, which would be disbursed over the next six years, was meant to interfere with the curriculum of pesantren.

"I don't know where that idea comes from. The education system in pesantren is one of the greatest education systems in the country," he said.

Kalla said he would discuss the details of the distribution of the aid with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of National Education.

However, he said the U.S. could also directly provide assistance to schools and pesantren run by the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah Muslim organizations.

The $157 million assistance was first announced by U.S. President George W. Bush during his meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri in Bali last month. --JP