Jakarta – Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, facing an uphill battle for a second term in July's election, yesterday criticised politicians who had promised free education.

"Those statements are not only against reality but also misleading," she said, speaking at a ceremony to mark National Education Day.

Ms Megawati, quoted by Antara state news agency, said education was costly but her government was trying to make it affordable to all.

The Prosperous Justice Party is working for free elementary school education in the nation's capital.

The party's Jakarta branch chairman Achmad Heryawan has said that if the city's budget is adequate, junior high school students must also get free education by 2006.