Jakarta (Koran Tempo: (17/07/07) Indonesians will be further lagged behind compared to their counterparts from foreign countries and it would be more difficult facing the tough global competition . Many parties have been questioning the government’s plan to cut education budget in the State Budget revision. Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Zaenal Ma'arif said this is a ‘tragedy.’ “There’s only one word to describe: Tragic,” Zaenal told Tempo yesterday. He pointed out that the Constitutional Court has ruled that the government has violated the Constitution for allocating less than 20% of the state budget for education. “The government should set aside 20 pct of the state budget for education and divide the remaining among other sectors,” he said.

The government’s plan to cut education budget was revealed in a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the House of Representatives last week. This move is taken after the government learnt that state revenue was lower Rp 38 trillion from the target set at Rp 723.1 trillion. Education budget will be reduced from Rp 44 trillion (11.8 pct) to Rp 39.5 trillion (10.5 pct). Only the budget for the State Ministry for State Owned Enterprises and Public Work Ministry would not be reduced.

Head of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Parliamentary Faction Mahfud Siddiq and Head of United Development Party (PPP) Parliamentary Faction Lukman Hakim Saeffudin concurred. “Budget for education and infrastructure is equally important. Education budget is an investment for human resources development," Mahfud said. Meanwhile, Lukman asserted that the budget reduction might affect the national education. Indonesia will be further lagged behind compared to their counterparts from foreign countries and it would be more difficult facing the tough global competition.

Head of Indonesian Teachers’ Association Sudharto has strongly rejected the government’s plan. As an organization that concern education, PGRI plans to file a protest. However, Sudharto did not explain how. “We are still discussing about it,” he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for National Development Planning for Development Financing Lukita D. Tuwo explained that the budget revision is an emergency step. “The government has the commitment (to set aside 20% of state budget for education spending) but it is unfeasible,” he asserted.

National Development Planning Minister Paskah Suzetta added, to achieve the target to allocate 20% of the state budget for education, the government still identify various problems. “Including reviewing the Law on National Education System (Sisdiknas) related to education budget,” he said. The government also has to identify other expenses, such as teachers and lecturers’ salary as well as other supporting sectors, to be included in the 20%.