UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

ased on international peace and ethics, with due recognition of mutual care and concern, generosity and respect
for human dignity. I thank you for your kind attention.
19.1 The PRESIDENT:
I thank His Excellency Mr Somsak Prisananuntagul of Thailand, Minister of Education, for his
contribution and I assure him that the World Conference on Education for All which was hosted by his family
was appreciated by everyone. I also endorse his comment which, as he said, applies to all countries, and that is
that the best way for children to be brought up is in a safe and protected home. I likewise appreciate what the
members of the royal family are doing to further the aims of UNESCO.
19.2 I now call upon His Excellency Mr Bambang Soehendro, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate to
UNESCO, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education of Indonesia.
20.1 Mr SOEHENDRO (Indonesia):
Madam President, allow me to read out the statement of the Minister of Education and Culture of the
Republic of Indonesia.
20.2 “Madam President, Mr Director-General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it
is indeed an honour and privilege for me to represent the Indonesian people and Government at this important
general policy debate of the 30th session of the General Conference of UNESCO. Please allow me, Madam
President, to offer you, on behalf of the Indonesian delegation, our warmest congratulations on your election as
President of this Conference. The Indonesian delegation is, indeed, fully confident that, with your vast experience
and wise leadership, our deliberations on the Draft Programme and Budget of UNESCO for 2000-2001, and
especially later our discussions in the commissions, will be fruitful.
20.3 From the outset I would like to report to you, Madam President, that the Indonesian delegation finds
itself in general agreement with the policies and contents of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2000-2001, as
contained in document 30 C/5.
20.4 Madam President, allow me to take this opportunity to inform you about the achievements of Indonesia
in the areas of competence of UNESCO, in relation to document 30 C/5. On account of the monetary and
economic crises that Indonesia has been, and still is, experiencing, which also affect other spheres of life, such as
education and culture, Indonesia has experienced a setback compared to what it reported on two years ago in this
august assembly. Nevertheless, with the spontaneous assistance Indonesia has received from UNESCO, UNICEF,
IMF, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and other bilateral assistance, including assistance in the
form of the Social Safety Net programme, I am confident Indonesia will soon achieve a recovery.
20.5 Regarding Major Programme I, Education for all throughout life, the government has committed itself to
providing basic education for all children and this is implemented through nine years of basic compulsory
education and also through fostering literacy and non-formal education programmes among youth and adults.
Besides, lifelong education has been accepted as a significant principle of education, as clearly stated in our Law
No. 2, 1989, on the national education system. Of course, in this matter, Indonesia fully agrees with the signal
given by many experts that Indonesia should not be ever satisfied with declared intentions, but should also
endeavour to implement them seriously. The Indonesian Government is fully aware and convinced that
‘education for all’ should also be seen as ‘all for education’, because only when ‘all for education’ is taking place
in real-life situations is the success of ‘education for all’ guaranteed.
20.6 The renewal of education systems for the information age is, indeed, urgently needed, but as already
mentioned in a brochure that pays tribute to teachers, the answer to today’s educational problems is not to give
every child access to a personal computer, or learning skills to access information, although that is needed, but to
develop the human personality and open up children’s minds and release the treasure within – the full potential of
the individual. Moreover, the Indonesian delegation believes that information is of value only when it properly
contributes to, or is used for, personality formation and transformation, and even reformation, or re-learning.
20.7 Indonesia participated in the World Conference on Higher Education: Vision and Action, organized by
UNESCO last year and has been busy ever since establishing legislative, political and financial frameworks for
the reform and further development of higher education. Indonesia is aiming at the following three targets:
(a) expansion and equity; (b) improvement of quality and relevance; and (c) implementation of new paradigms in
higher education management which include the greater autonomy and accountability of institutions. The
consideration of higher education as a catalyst for the entire education system implies that higher education will
act as the motive force for the entire education system, which therefore should be linked closely and properly
defined for better overall achievement in education.
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