Jakarta (Suara Pembaruan: 06/06/06) The government shall increase education budget. However, big budget should be able to improve education quality. The government’s move (increasing education budget) should be based on willingness to comply with the Constitution, and not based on getting the public sympathy.

Those are the conclusion of our interview with education Professor from Jakarta State University HAR Tilaar and Coordinator of Indonesian Independent Teachers’ Federation (FGII) Suparman, on Tuesday (6/6) in Jakarta, related to the government effort to increase education allocation from 9.1% to 20% of the State Budget.

In a Consultation meeting on Monday evening at the State Palace, the government and the House agreed to find ways to increase education allocation to reach 20% of the State Budget as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution. According to Tilaar, the budget increase should prompt the National Education Ministry to improve quality. He pointed out that, so far, the policies issued by the ministry failed to improve the national education quality. 

"National Education Ministry only cares for improving its own image, but it neglects improving education quality for the people. Budget increase should be accompanied by education quality improvement," he said.
He added that giving big budget to the National Education Ministry will raise various problems, especially related to the readiness of central and regional government."

National Education Ministry’s strategic plan is not significant enough to improve the national education. Meanwhile, regional administration so far is still lacking of good education development planning," he explained. Separately, Suparman said if the government manages to allocate 20% of state budget for education it would be very positive.

The government should take its commitment seriously; moreover, it is stipulated in the Constitution. "In the future, the government should be ready with various sectors that could help improving education quality," he said. According to him, there are three main sectors in increasing education quality, namely teachers quality and welfare, improving access to education, and enhanching internal budget control.

After a consultation meeting on Monday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, accompanied by Speaker of the House of Representatives Agung Laksono said the government might increase education allocation to 20% of state budget in the revised 2006 State Budget to be discussed next July. Previously, DPR Speaker Agung Laksono said, "Our education budget will be increase to 20%, or an increase by Rp 80 trillion. It is not easy to make us of such a lot of funds, especially it should be realized this year"