Main Barriers to Education
- Poverty
- high birth rate
- Infant mortality
- Education system
According to the World Bank, this country has emerged as a confident middle income country, where since the year 2000 they have increased their GDP from $2,200 in the year 2000 to $3,563 in 2012, and reduced national debt from 61% in 2003 to 26% in 2013. Success in Indonesia is driven by the country’s long term development plan which is now in its second phase.
Although there are strong improvements in Indonesia, around half of the population lives on the national poverty line, which is around $16 per month and 28 million live below it.
Rich in natural resources, and politically stable, Indonesia has attracted many investors; however, many more are deterred by poor infrastructure, corruption and growing calls for economic protectionism.
A high birth rate alongside a shortage of schools and qualified teachers in Indonesia is resulting in a significant challenge for the Indonesian education system, where teachers are required by law, to acquire a 4 year college degree. In poor, rural areas in Indonesia, Primary school enrollment rates are below 60%; the more affluent areas of this country however, have achieved universal primary education. According to the World Bank, Indonesia’s education system is classified as the third largest in the Asia region and the fourth largest in the world.
sources: WORLDBANK, BBC, ADB.ORG, GEOGRAPHIA.COM, COUNTRYSTUDIES.US
Projects
Strengthening Education System for Out of School Children
The Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and East Timor continue to face challenges in reaching and educating out of school children (OOSC). The EAC-UNESCO Asia Pacific Regional Bureau for Education Strengthening Education Systems for Out of School Children project seeks to enrol and retain 50,000 out of school children in quality primary education programs in the sub-region.Partners
