Foreign Affairs Ministry told to stay alert to education intelligence

Jakarta, NU Online
Director general for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs Hamzah Thayeb called on education circles to stay alert against any possible education intelligence from donor countries giving scholarships to Indonesian students to study abroad.

Thayeb made the remarks in responding to a statement of one of students while attending a de-briefing session at the Deplu office recently, adding many Indonesian students that have obtained scholarships from foreign countries/agencies should write thesis in regard with many things about Indonesia.<>

"I have heard that many Indonesian students (studying) abroad are obliged by their campus to make thesis about Indonesia. This will in turn produce such educated intelligence for donor countries," he said.

The same opinion was alos expressed by Hamzah following his meeting with fellow Indonesian students in Australia, saying that it was compulsory of Indonesian students to make thesis about Indonesia.

Even their campus, he said, would reject any thesis written by Indonesian students which has nothing to do with Indonesia so that they could not complete their study.

"This condition is quite difficult, but we also need to think the prospect of Indonesia in the future times," Hamzah said.

Hamzah also expressed his concern about possible consequences giving no benefits to Indonesia if those giving scholarships to Indonesian students could easily influence the development of Indonesia in the future.

He said there have now been some 17.000 Indonesian students studying in Australia. (dar)