Tangerang (Suara Pembaruan: 04/01/07) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned the community not to force teachers to decrease education quality, because it will make Indonesia unable to compete with other countries.

“There is no compromise concerning education quality. If we compromise (decrease) education quality, we will not be able to compete with other countries,” said President in Karawaci Tangerang Public Housing Complex as he inaugurated the renovation of 220 school buildings in Tangerang on Wednesday (3/1).

At the occasion, the president urged regional administrations, especially those in regency/municipality level, to follow the step of Tangerang city administration and regional council (DPRD) which allocates 42% of its annual budget for education sector.
“If all the governors, mayors and regents follow the steps of Tangerang, education in Indonesian will improve more quickly,” Yudhoyono said. He was  accompanied by Mrs Ani Yudhoyono, National Education Minister  Bambang Sudibyo, and Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim.

Quality

In front of hundreds of elementary school, junior and senior high school students and teachers, the Head of State also said that huge education spending, including the  fund for school renovation, is really helpful for parents. “With the accomplishment of school reconstruction and rehabilitation, parents will not have to bear such a heavy burden anymore,” said the president.

The government will uphold commitment to provide education of quality, accessible and affordable. The government, added the president, hopes that one day students from under privileged families could go to school without having to pay at all.“We also want to boost education for children from poor families,” said the president.

Meanwhile, National Education Minister  Bambang Sudibyo said rehabilitasi and establishment of new schools are at increasing schools’ capacity and improving access to education. “Of course, this is not the only way to improve education quality, but we have to admit that it would be difficult to imagine that our children will get a good education without the basic facilities,” Bambang said.

In the meantime, Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim reported new school building was started in 2004 with 62 schools being built. However, because there were still a lot of damaged school, the city administration decided to build 220 schools in 13 districts in the Tangerang city in 2006.  With an annual regional budget (APBD) of Rp315 billion, the city has built 1,287 classrooms, 324 offices, 1,035 bathroom /toilettes, 207 stockrooms, and school facilities.