Minister of National Education, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Mohammad Nuh, D.E.A., visited Universitas Gadjah Mada. The delegation that included Director General of Higher Education, Prof. dr. Fasli Jalal, Ph.D., and Director General of Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Dr. Suyanto, and Director of Research and Community Service of the Higher Education, Prof. Ir. Suryo Hapsoro Tri Utomo, Ph.D., were received by the Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., accompanied by Senior Vice Rector for Academic, Research and Community Service, Prof. Dr. Retno Sunarminingsih Sudibyo, Apt., in the Multimedia Room,UGM, Wednesday (25/11).
In the meeting, the minister received explanation about the agenda of UGM in 2010. Vice Rector for Students, Alumni, and Business Development, Prof.Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, Ph.D., M. Phil., explained to the delegation about UGM's international projects related to local wisdom.
The Minister in that occasion told his concerns about the importance of character building and national excellent culture in education, apart from technology and science. "Two main important values are character education and excellent culture. Do not only focus on IT, soldering, and how to produce concrete," he said. According to the minister, there are other dimensions that need to be developed in Indonesian education. Character building and excellent culture should get more attention from educators in the country. "I think that those play an important role in education. The task to spread those two values are on the teachers, including professors at universities," he added.
In order to bring the future generation to have an awareness of the importance of character building and excellent culture, the minister asked the experts to sit together to discuss the development of appropriate teaching. In order to support these, in 2010 the Government of Indonesia will provide scholarships for 20 thousands of high school graduates to continue to higher education in various universities in the country.
Those from high schools/vocational schools/Islamic boarding schools will get tuition schemes suitable with the chosen major. "We ask high learning institutions to prepare schemes for potential students so that they can continue their education. I think UGM has long had a program like this. I hope after five years they can cut the chains of poverty, at least in the own their family, "he said.