USAID inspects teachers college project in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Walter North toured the site of a new US$10 million state-of-the-art teaching training facility underway at the University of Syiah Kuala (Unsyiah). USAID is providing support to build and furnish the new facility.

The effort is part of the US Government Education and Tsunami Grant Assistance Program for Aceh.

The Unsyiah construction is one of the last of the various Aceh relief and recovery efforts undertaken since the catastrophe. More than 100 teachers and 1,200 students perished in the December 2004 tsunami and the university suffered extensive damage.

Unsyiah is the region's premier pre-service teachers training facility. It focuses on overcoming a shortfall of qualified teachers in Aceh. - JP