More Schools join BRIDGE with Australia

Eight more schools from South Sulawesi, Central Kalimantan , Yogyakarta , and Jakarta are now connected with schools in Australia through the innovative BRIDGE program.

Two teachers from each school will travel to Australia in May 2013 where they will spend a week in a capacity building program and two weeks as part of the teaching and learning activities at their partner schools while building partnerships.

The Indonesian teachers will improve their English language skills and receive training on incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into their teaching.

Australia’s Asia Education Foundation and the Provincial Offices of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in South Sulawesi, Jakarta, Central Kalimantan, and Yogyakarta will sign agreements this week to join the 2013 BRIDGE program.

This brings the total number of Indonesian schools participating in the BRIDGE program to 97 schools across 12 provinces.

“This program is an opportunity for Indonesia and Australia to build relationships and share experiences through school teachers,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty.

“BRIDGE helps to facilitate communications between school communities of both countries through innovative technologies like Wikispaces and ICT learning tools such as using video conferencing to foster friendship internationally.”

The BRIDGE program - Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement – was initiated in 2008 by the Australia-Indonesia Institute and is funded by the Australian Government and the Myer Foundation.

The Asia Education Foundation delivered the program with the support of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

The new schools participating in 2013 from South Sulawesi include SDN Mangkura III and SDN Pacinongang Unggulan; from Central Kalimantan: SDN Percobaan Palangka Raya, SMPN 2 Palangka Raya, SMPN 1 Sampit, and SMAN 2 Sampit; from Yogyakarta: SMPN 1 Galur; and from Jakarta: MAN 4.

Media Enquiries:
Rendy Djauhari, AusAID Public Affairs, +62 811 190 482