Palembang sets aside 42% for education

PALEMBANG: Palembang municipality has planned to propose an education budget of Rp 587 billion (about US$58.7 million), or 42 percent of the city's spending in 2010.

It will also propose Rp 103 billion for health, Rp 7 billion for social welfare and Rp 177 billion for infrastructure.

"The municipality will prioritize four sectors in the Palembang city budget proposal in 2010; education, health, infrastructure and social welfare, or poverty alleviation," said Eddy Santana on Tuesday.

Eddy said the policy was part of efforts to eradicate illiteracy and provide education to less privileged people.

The amount of the education budget has been increased significantly because more than 300,000 students and 350,000 teachers in Palembang need urgent attention.

The education budget covers all aspects of education, such as operational infrastructure and facilities, teachers' training, human resource improvement and other benefits, including increases in teachers' allowances and salaries. - JP