Archived Media Release
Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction & Development

16 November 2006

Aceh Schools Re-Open With Australian Help

Two Islamic schools damaged in the tsunami and restored with Australian funding were re-opened today in Banda Aceh.

Australia provided Rp 5.63 billion (AUD 870,000) under the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD) to restore Lampisang State Islamic Primary School in Aceh Besar and Merduati State Islamic Primary School in Banda Aceh which were opened by the head of the Australian aid program in Indonesia, Allison Sudradjat.

“Over 300 Acehnese school students will be able to return to their schools thanks to a great partnership between Australia and the local Acehnese community,” Allison Sudradjat said.

Ms Sudradjat visited Lampisang State Islamic Primary School which has a new library, two additional classrooms and separate toilets for boys and girls. Before the tsunami, the original school did not have these facilities, so the school is now a better environment for learning.

“Lampisang State Islamic Primary School, in the grounds of the mosque, is bigger now thanks to a community agreement to donate additional land. During its rebuilding, a local farmer moved out of his home so that 142 children could use it for temporary classrooms,” Ms Sudradjat said.

The centerpiece of the school is the library, which was a joint project between the teachers and the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development’s Dr Sofiyan A Gani. Dr Sofiyan studied librarianship in the United Kingdom and was formerly chief librarian at Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh.

“Teachers read the books first and then set exercises for the children. Time will be set aside in the school day for the pupils to sit in the library and do their research,” Dr. Sofiyan said.

The library is also stocked with reference books on farming and fish ponds for local villagers to use.

In total Australia is funding the rehabilitation of 14 schools in Banda Aceh, and building a further 2000 schools elsewhere in Indonesia.

Overall, Australia has committed around Rp 322 billion (AUD 46 million) to Aceh education activities.

For further information, please contact:
Mia Salim, Senior Public Affairs Officer, AusAID 0812 1070237

NOTE: Lampisang State Islamic Primary School is 10 kilometers west of Banda Aceh. The restoration project costs AUD 250,000 (IDR 1.63 billion) and Merduati State Islamic Primary School is in Banda Aceh. The restoration project costs AUD 620,000 (IDR 4 billion).