U.S. to aid Indonesia's education with $165 million

U.S. to aid Indonesia's education with $165 million

2011-05-13 21:31:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMBON, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The government of the United States is planning to aid Indonesia's education program with a $165 million to fund several programs, officials said Friday.

U.S. Consul General for Indonesia Kristen Bauer at the Ambon State Institute of Islamic Studies in the country's province of Maluku said that the U.S. fund was focused on helping improve the quality of education in Indonesia, Antara news agency reported.

According to Bauer, the funds are to be used for university scholarships destined for Indonesian nationals pursuing higher education in the U.S., strengthen partnership among universities in Indonesia, and finance student exchange programs.

The U.S. Consul General noted that U.S. university programs also offer international scholarships for foreigners, which could benefit Indonesian students as well.

In addition to the funds, Bauer said the U.S. government was preparing other programs to improve the quality of education in the Southeast Asian country that cover different educational levels, from elementary to high school.

Among U.S. plans, a faculty exchange program is being prepared in order for Indonesian teachers to travel to the U.S. and experience the educational system there for several months, as U.S. teachers would in turn be sent to Indonesia.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-13