The Challenge

• Only 33% of children who enroll in primary school complete 9 years of basic education.
• Local government is challenged to manage the decentralized education system and effectively address education disparities.
• Only 17.5% gross enrollment in Higher Education.

The Goal

• Support a decentralized effort for quality and relevant education.
• Build capacity of institutions to improve management and delivery of education services.
• Promote an educated workforce that will advance international investment and stability.

PROGRAMS:

DBE, an outgrowth of the Presidential Indonesia Education Initiative, focuses on improving the quality and relevance of basic education in primary and junior secondary schools. Through technical assistance and training, the program has three goals: 1) to assist local governments and communities to manage education services more effectively; 2) to enhance teaching and learning to improve student performance in key subjects such as math, science and reading; and 3) to ensure that Indonesia’s youth gain more relevant life and work skills to better compete for jobs in the modern economy.

Since the initiative began in 2005, approximately 1,476 schools, 57,400 educators, and 480,000 students have directly benefitted from improved teaching and learning and better school management. The initiative has also increased donor coordination and cooperation both at the national and regional levels. Tools and approaches have been replicated by local government and donor agencies in an additional 90 districts, and by the end of 2011, there will be 26,170 schools replicating best practices.

The program also helps Government of Indonesia’s teacher certification program by partnering with three U.S. universities – the University of Pittsburg, Florida State University, and the University of Massachusetts – and 15 Indonesian universities. In addition, public-private alliances, such as with Intel and Conoco-Phillips, leverage resources to support USAID programs.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

This program supports Indonesia’s commitment toward EFA (Education For All) by laying the foundation for an inclusive education system by focusing on the educational rights and needs of children with visual impairments, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and autism. The program assists over 10,000 children with special needs to gain access to inclusive schools by 2013. This will be achieved through collaboration and partnership with Ministry of National Education (MONE), Helen Keller International, local universities, and Disabled Person’s Organizations (DPOs) by strengthening governance, pre-service and in-service collaboration, and public awareness campaigns.

SESAME STREET INDONESIA / JALAN SESAMA

In partnership with the Sesame Workshop, USAID supports the development of an Indonesian co-production of the renowned Sesame Street television show. Since it went on the air in 2008, more than 7 million Indonesian preschoolers have viewed the show and become better equipped to start and stay in school. Sesame Workshop works collaboratively with the Ministry of National Education in expanding educational materials to 750 early childhood education centers.

UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS

The University Partnership (UP) program supports collaboration between U.S. and Indonesian institutions of higher education. The five-year program (2009-2014) enables Indonesian institutions to improve the quality of teaching, research, and community service. Partnership areas of focus may vary from year to year but have included public health, education, environmental protection/climate change, civil society initiatives, economic growth and agriculture. For a complete list of on-going partnerships and a description of our current areas of focus, please visit our University Partnerships webpage. To date, USAID has made 7 awards and has a goal of 25 partnership grants over the course of the five-year project.

HIGHER EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING

The Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy (HELM) program assists MONE with improving the quality of the higher education system. The five-year program enables the Ministry and higher education institutions to perform effectively in financial management; general administration and management; quality assurance; and collaboration with external stakeholders. This intervention addresses issues of access, transparency, and improved quality of teaching, research and service programs that apply across Indonesia’s nearly 3,000 institutions of higher education.

PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT IN RESEARCH (PEER)

USAID is also partnering with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Partners for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program. Under PEER, USAID will directly support Indonesian scientists to engage in research projects with NSF-funded researchers in the U.S. There are currently many on-going NSF projects in Indonesia and many other NSF-funded scientists working on topics of relevance to Indonesia. PEER is an excellent opportunity to expand existing partnerships and create new linkages between scientists in Indonesian and the U.S.

PROGRAM TO EXTEND SCHALARSHIPS AND TRAINING TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE IMPACTS (PRESTASI)

PRESTASI supports USAID’s tradition of participant training and human capacity development by providing opportunities for advanced academic degrees in the U.S. and Indonesia.  It will provide training and technical services required to strengthen and expand the base of skilled, high-performing professionals and institutions in Indonesia’s public and private sector.  While previous USAID scholarship programs were offered primarily to government officials, PRESTASI is open to all qualified Indonesians for graduate study in the areas of Education, Health, Economic Growth, Environment, and Democracy/Governance.  Applications may be found at the PRESTASI website and are due in November each year. http://www.prestasi-iief.org/

THE ACEH POLYTECHNIC PROGRAM (TAPP)

TAPP is a public-private partnership between USAID, the Chevron Foundation, Indonesia’s Central Government and the local authorities of Banda Aceh. It aims to support the Government’s efforts in accelerating economic development through qualified technical education and training, thereby contributing to a competitive local economy providing income opportunities for Aceh’s youth.

FAKULTAS KEGURUAN DAN LIMU PENDIDIKAN (FKIP) TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE PROJECT

The FKIP Project for rehabilitation and construction of a new teacher training facility at University of Syiah Kuala (UNSYIAH) represents a major component of the U.S. and Indonesian Government’s cooperation in the reconstruction and modernization of the education system in Aceh. The project includes furnishing and equipping the new building and providing technical assistance to standards through USAID’s DBE program.

WEST SUMATRA SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM

USAID and AusAid in partnership with the Government of Indonesia are assisting in rebuilding schools in 5 districts in West Sumatra that were severely damaged in the September 2009 earthquake. When fully implemented, the program is expected to rebuild 34 single storey schools and help more than 6,000 students back to school.