Australia to help 300,000 children go to school

The Australian Government has signed an agreement to disburse A$210 million to the Indonesian Government to build schools.

Through this education partnership, up to 2,000 junior secondary schools will be built in poor and remote areas where they are most needed.

The program builds on the highly successful Australia - Indonesia Basic Education Program which built more than 2,000 schools between 2006 -2010.

“Education is a fundamental human right and critical for individuals to lift themselves out of poverty. This new education partnership will enable a further 300,000 Indonesian children to attend school,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Greg Moriarty.

The two governments are working together to achieve Indonesia’s goal of providing nine years of basic education for all Indonesian girls and boys, regardless of their gender, where they live or how much their family earns.

“Better educated children result in a more productive workforce. Better educated girls lead to lower child and maternal mortality, improved child nutrition and stronger political participation,” Mr. Moriarty said.

This assistance is part of the $500 million five-year Education Partnership announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta in late 2010.

The schools will be constructed by local communities, using local labour, equipment and materials and each will include facilities for the disabled and separate toilets for boys and girls.

The Education Partnership will also improve school management through training provided to 293,000 school principals, school supervisors and district education officials.

Media enquiries:
Mia Salim, AusAID Indonesia, 08121070237