Yogyakarta (Kedaulatan Rakyat: 01/09/06) In order to improve national education quality, Sampoerna Foundation (SF) runs a school quality improvement program called “Sampoerna Foundation United Schools Program.” This program comprises of school principals, teachers, teaching and learning activities and education curriculum improvement programs. It also runs post-disaster education rehabilitation programs in disaster-affected areas. 

To improve education quality, SF also established a training centre for teachers (Sampoerna Foundation Teacher Institute), and a business school in cooperation with ITB (Sampoerna School of Business and Management-ITB).

SF Chief Operating Officer Elan Merdy informed after the hand over of the Rp1.5 trillion of education assistance from businessman Putera Sampoerna for education revitalization in Indonesia through SF on Thursday (31/8). The symbolic hand over which took place at the Sampoerna Foundation’s headquarters was witnessed by National Education Minister Bambang Soedibyo.

At the occasion, Elan expressed appreciation to Putera Sampoerna who has entrusted the fund management for education in Indonesia to the foundation. “On behalf of the SF we express our gratitude to Putera Sampoerna who is committed to grant his personal donation through SF. We undertake to manage the fund so it could help broadening access to education and helping improving the quality of education in Indonesia,” he said.

He explained that the Putera Sampoerna’s contribution will be run by SF through its programs, which could hopefully give a direct contribution to access, quality, achievement and development of education in Indonesia. Eventually it could help Indonesia to produce advanced and competent future leaders.

According to Elan, since the past five years SF has run various programs aimed at improving the quality of students in Indonesia and overseas, as well as the quality of teachers, school principles and curriculum. Aside of that, he added, we are also working with a reputable education institution in the country to establish a school of business management. ”This is aimed at improving education access and quality which is expected to produce Indonesian leaders in the future,” Elan added.

In its history, SF is focusing on addressing two biggest problems of education in Indonesia, namely access and quality. Concerning access to education SF has granted scholarships to over 19.700 students.