Australia Funds Construction of Fifty-Five Secondary Schools in South Sulawesi

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, today attended a school inauguration ceremony in SMPN 2 Manuju, Gowa, South Sulawesi. It is one of 2000 Indonesian junior secondary schools being built or upgraded until 2009 with Australian assistance.

“The Rp2,5 trillion Australia Indonesia Partnership’s Basic Education Program will fund the construction or expansion of schools in 19 Indonesian provinces. Up to 1225 schools are expected to be completed by the end of 2007,” said Mr Farmer.

“There are fifty-five junior secondary schools being constructed in South Sulawesi in 2006-2007, making it a key target province under the program. Thirty five are new school building (USB) and twenty are One-roof SD-SMP school (SATAP)” said Mr Farmer.

The construction program will create more than 330,000 new junior secondary school places for 13 to 15 year olds, targeting children from poor and remote areas.

Local people are building the schools using locally supplied materials. The school sites have been selected based on an assessment of unmet demand, enrolment rates and community involvement.

“Australia continues to support education in Indonesia, recognising it can significantly improve the quality of people’s lives,” said Mr Farmer.

To enhance the people linkages, the Basic Education Program will be supported by a ‘sister school’ arrangement, to aid positive exchanges between Australian and Indonesian school communities.

Around 1400 junior secondary schools will be implemented by Ministry of National Education and about 600 Madrasah Tsanawiyah are implemented by Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Further information:
Mia Salim (Public Affairs, AusAID) - 08121070237