Australian Ambassador Launches School and University Projects in Aceh

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, will formally open the Suak Timah Integrated Madrasah in Aceh province today.

The Australian Government has provided A$2.65 million (IDR 20.5 billion) through the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD) to support the establishment of this Islamic school, which will provide education for primary and secondary students at both the junior and senior levels.

The community of Sama Tiga sub-district in Meulaboh, which was devastated by the impact of the tsunami, has been closely involved in planning and monitoring the building process over the past two years, and donated its football field to be the site of the new school.

The informal community leader of Sama Tiga sub-district, Tgk H. Abdullah Agam, said the community wanted to give its children a new start after the tsunami, by providing them with a school and a future through education.

“This top class school will now become a place of quality education for our children, as well as a place for the community to gather,” he said.

While in Aceh, Ambassador Farmer will also launch two Australian-funded projects at the province’s premier tertiary education facility, Syiah Kuala University.

Through an A$3 million (IDR 23.3 billion) program of assistance, the Australian Government will work in partnership with universities from both Indonesia and Australia to revitalise research capacity in Aceh at the university’s Social Science Research Training Centre.

The University’s Medical Faculty is also the recipient of Australian assistance in the form of the A$1.48million (IDR 11.5 billion) Problem Based Learning centre, which will support training for 1000 students a year.

Farmer said the need to upgrade medical and nursing training facilities was made a priority immediately after the tsunami.

“This centre will go a long way to ensuring sustainable future improvement to health services in Aceh,” the Ambassador said.

“Supporting quality tertiary education for a new generation of Acehnese is an important step towards rebuilding Aceh as a whole, and the Australian Government is pleased to support these efforts.”

Australia has already allocated more than A$250 million (IDR 1.7 trillion) to relief and reconstruction efforts in Aceh and North Sumatra.

Further information:
Mia Salim (AusAID) – 0812 107 0237