Australia Supporting Education Sector

VIVAnews - Amidst the global financial crisis, Australia will still maintain its long-term commitment to contribute to Indonesia's education sector, according to Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer on Thursday, Feb 5.

Farmer said, in response to a question of whether or not the financial crisis will hamper the Australian aid program, "Indonesia and Australia has a long term commitment and we fully respect it."

Farmer stated fairly that the economy is facing a difficult situation. The Australian government has also allocated aid to stimulate the economic growth.

"Australia is both Indonesia's associate and neighbouring country. Therefore, we will always keep our commitment," said Farmer.

With regard to the total fund that the Australian government had disbursed to support education sector in Indonesia, Farmer said, "For me personally, this is not a matter of fund. A considerable amount of fund has been disbursed for education and it has benefited people individually or collectively."

In fact, both the Indonesian and Australian government will jointly build and renovate around 2,000 schools, including 500 madrasa, in Indonesia.

"It is not about the money. It is concerned with how to improve the life of the Indonesian people. Therefore, by building schools, the younger generation of Indonesia may continue to go to school," said Farmer.

Meanwhile, Farmer announced three Indonesians who were awarded the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award for making significant contributions to the development of Indonesia and to the strong people-to-people links between the two countries.

Those awardees include Lubna Algadrie (lecturer in Surabaya Institute of Technology), Dr I Made Nitis (honorary professor at Udayana University) and Abdullah Alamudi (member of Press Council, Jakarta).

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono