President Jokowi Calls for Large-Scale Reforms to Improve Education Quality

President Jokowi leads a limited cabinet meeting on effectiveness of education and health spending in the State Budget at the Presidential Office, Jakarta (5/10)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that education and health budget from year to year is getting bigger and hopes that the budget can be used effectively, well targeted, and bring maximum results.

President Jokowi also hopes that the bigger education budget can improve the country’s education quality and provide better access to education for students, especially those from underprivileged families.

“Therefore, I have instructed Minister of Education and Culture to finish the distribution of Smart Indonesia Card and ensure that the card can reach students from underprivileged families and are well-targeted,” President Jokowi said at the limited cabinet meeting on effectiveness of spending education and health sectors at the State Budget at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (5/10).

President Jokowi also reminded that during the competition era among countries these days, Indonesia needs human resources that are not only healthy but also smart, productive, and have characters.

President Jokowi also hopes that education infrastructures continue to be improved. Based on the Government’s data, out of 1.8 million classrooms, only 466,000 of it are in good condition, while out of 212,000 schools, 100,000 of them do not have education infrastructures yet.“Therefore, I call for large-scale reforms to improve the quality of our education,” President Jokowi said.

Also attending the meeting were Vice President JusufKalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy DarminNasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary PramonoAnung, Presidential Chief of Staff TetenMasduki, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendi, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of Social Affairs KhofifahIndarParawansa, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) BambangBrodjonegoro, as well asMinister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms AsmanAbnur. (FID/JAY/ES)(EP/YM/Naster)