Jakarta – Some 10,000 students and teachers paraded around the National Monument here Sunday, campaigning for a better national education system.
The event was held in conjunction with National Education Day, which falls every May 2, and the 100th anniversary of National Awakening Day (May 20). Participants said Indonesia had made little progress in developing education.
"The government should focus more on supporting schools," said Gabby Victoria, 13, a student of Santa Maria junior high school at the event.
"The distribution of assistance funds has been unfair... Schools in big cities like Jakarta get all the attention, while others in remote areas get none," said Gabby, who was performing as a dancer at the parade.
Governor Jakarta Fauzi Bowo, former House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung and celebrities including actress Dian Sastrowardoyo and Miss Indonesia 2005 Imelda Fransisca were among the VIPs at the event organized by the Sampoerna Foundation.
The Sampoerna Foundation said the event was aiming to invite all elements of society to campaign for improving education in Indonesia.
"We are all obliged to care about education in Indonesia. Hopefully the event... will be a milestone for Indonesia in beginning to improve the education system," foundation chief executive officer Lin Che Wei announced at the opening ceremony.
"In this spirit, the foundation is committed to continuing its scholarship program which aims to create better leaders for Indonesia," he added.
The event was positive for the development of Indonesian education, Imelda Fransisca told The Jakarta Post. "This event is a good moment for all of us to work hand in hand in improving the quality of our education system," she said, adding that Indonesia needed more charity organizations to distribute scholarships.
Over the 2006-2007 period, more than six million school-age children (six to 18 years old) in Indonesia were unable attend school, according to data from Education Ministry.
The ministry also said its 2006 data showed some 12 percent of the country's 220 million people were illiterate, while more than 1.4 million teachers were not qualified to teach.
The Sampoerna Foundation said it had granted some 30,000 scholarships to Indonesian students and teachers over the past seven years. It also supports schools nationwide through its United Schools Program.
"In total, we will provide some Rp 1.5 trillion for scholarships over 10 years, while under the United Schools Program we have supported 22 schools around the country... with various assistance funds," Lin said. (nkn)