Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he had agreed to give education the biggest state budget allocation among all state-financed sectors in order to support the improvement of the quality of education in the country.
"The education sector will be given priority and the largest amount of subsidy. Believe me, the government with a clear and rational mind will strive to manage and spend the budget more fairly," he said at a meeting with participants of the 3rd national meeting of the Association of Indonesian Private Universities (APTISI) at the State Palace.<>
The President, flanked by Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno, said he had agreed to continuously increase the education budget to fulfill the mandate of the constitution.
According to the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum 2006-2007, Indonesia now ranks 50th out of 125 countries or 19 grades higher than before in the matter of economic competitiveness.
In the same period, the quality of the country`s education system ranks 23rd. "It is improving. Only Singapore and Malaysia rank above us while other Asean countries are below us," the president said.
Therefore, he called on all parties to take the improved ratings as an impetus to further improve education in the country so that Indonesia would have an opportunity to develop again.
The president on the occasion also stressed the need for the development of a tripartite relationship between the government, educational institutions and the market.
This is important with regard to determining qualifications needed by industries, he said.
He also called on all educational institutions to make their education system trustworthy. "Curriculum must be made to match with the needs of the people and the economy," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
He mentioned nine factors that would determine a nation`s competitiveness, namely institutions, infrastructure, macro-economy, health, primary and higher education, training, market efficiency, technological readiness, business and innovation. (dar)
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he had agreed to give education the biggest state budget allocation among all state-financed sectors in order to support the improvement of the quality of education in the country.
"The education sector will be given priority and the largest amount of subsidy. Believe me, the government with a clear and rational mind will strive to manage and spend the budget more fairly," he said at a meeting with participants of the 3rd national meeting of the Association of Indonesian Private Universities (APTISI) at the State Palace.<>
The President, flanked by Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno, said he had agreed to continuously increase the education budget to fulfill the mandate of the constitution.
According to the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum 2006-2007, Indonesia now ranks 50th out of 125 countries or 19 grades higher than before in the matter of economic competitiveness.
In the same period, the quality of the country`s education system ranks 23rd. "It is improving. Only Singapore and Malaysia rank above us while other Asean countries are below us," the president said.
Therefore, he called on all parties to take the improved ratings as an impetus to further improve education in the country so that Indonesia would have an opportunity to develop again.
The president on the occasion also stressed the need for the development of a tripartite relationship between the government, educational institutions and the market.
This is important with regard to determining qualifications needed by industries, he said.
He also called on all educational institutions to make their education system trustworthy. "Curriculum must be made to match with the needs of the people and the economy," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
He mentioned nine factors that would determine a nation`s competitiveness, namely institutions, infrastructure, macro-economy, health, primary and higher education, training, market efficiency, technological readiness, business and innovation. (dar)
