Government to Cooperate in Primary School Quality Improvements
Thursday, 06 April, 2006 | 18:13 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The National Education Department yesterday (5/4) signed a memorandum of understanding with UNICEF and the European Union for improving quality at primary schools.

The Basic Education Sector Capacity Support Program was signed by Dodi Nandika, Secretary General of the National Education Department, Gianfranco Rotigliano, the UNICEF representative, and Pierre Philippe, the European Union Head of Cooperation.

This program to improve quality in primary schools will comprise observing or mapping three areas with large education gaps, Ternate, Pontianak, and Bengkulu.

”These are regions with a high disparity of primary schools quality compared to places like Jakarta or Yogyakarta,” said Dodi.

Numerically, he said, the quality disparity between the three regions and other areas is in excess of 20 percent.

“While other areas, such disparity only measures approximately five percent,” he said.

Following the mapping of education needs in these three region, Dodi went on to say, UNICEF and the European Union will provide assistance in the form of training for teacher improvement, books and school facilities.

“All of the assistance is to be suited with specific needs, in order to be effective,” explained Dodi.

Rini Kustiani