Holland Donates 24 Million Euro for Education
Tuesday, 27 June, 2006 | 16:29 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Dutch government donated 24 million Euro for the improvement of education in six regencies of East Nusa Tenggara, Alor, Kupang, Lembata, West Sumba, East Sumba and North Central Timur .

The donation was handed over by Nikolaus Van Dam, the Ambassador of the Dutch Kingdom, to Bambang Sudibyo, the Minister of Education, today.

The donation, said Bambang, will be utilized for increasing the average number of children who attend elementary school (SD), junior high (SMP) and senior high school (SMA). “It is expected that the average number of school children attending SD may increase to 95 per cent in 2009 compared to 2005 of 94.3 percent,” said the Minister.

Whereas the average number of SMP students is expected to increase to 98 percent in 2009 compared to 85.22 percent in 2005. As for SMA students, it is anticipated that they will reach 75.40 percent in 2009 compared to 63.67 percent in 2005.

The choice of East Nusa Tenggara as the recipient of aid, according to the Minister, is based on the fact that this province has been one of many regions with the lowest level of education. It can be seen by the number of illiterates and the graduation rate.

Rini Kustiani