Japan leaves education legacy

Community participation and good partnership among stakeholders are likely keys to success for education in the regions during the era of decentralization, a workshop heard here Tuesday.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s Norimichi Toyomane said this approach stimulated regions to develop their education systems through the Regional Education Development and Improvement Program (REDIP).

Toyomane, REDIP's coordinator, said that after initial financial support and guidance, Bitung municipality in North Sulawesi, and Brebes and Pekalongan regencies in Central Java had carried on this approach independently.

"And two other regencies, Serang and Pandeglang in Banten, are on the way to self-sustainability," he said.

REDIP was launched in 1999 when the 1997 economic crisis led to fears that school participation rates would fall. The program was designed in line with decentralization and regional autonomy, which transferred responsibility for education to the regions.

REDIP is a model for regions aiming to develop junior secondary education during the autonomy era, with many regions initially unprepared to take responsibility for education.

REDIP is motivating schools to work with local communities. It trains schools to write project proposals and grants funding for good projects.

The Japanese agency has, for example, awarded grants to set up an English study club with parents and a neighborhood youth organization; for the publication of educational bulletins; to promote competitions for art, sport, science and scouting and a workshop on making palm sugar.

REDIP organizes regular support meetings for principals and teachers at district level to coordinate cooperation in managing schools and classes.

JICA has granted a total of Rp 45 billion (approximately US$4.9 million) through its REDIP program. Local administrations have financed their own REDIP projects since 2002, with funds disbursed reaching Rp 14 billion.

Toyomane said REDIP had helped regions improve their national exam scores, as well as the motivation of students to go to school, educators to teach, and principals to manage schools.

The success of JICA's REDIP model has inspired central government and local administrations to initiate their own REDIP projects.

Central government began to adopt REDIP in Bogor, Bekasi and Tangerang regencies in 2005. Central Java and Banten have initiated their own REDIP programs in the last two years.

In total, REDIP has impacted upon 1,016 schools in 119 districts and in four provinces.