Media Releases

16 February 2006

Australia Donates 7000 Teaching Books to Aceh Universities

As part of the A$15 million spending program on education in Aceh, the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD) has today presented around 7000 teaching reference books on education worth A$206,000 (Rp. 1,5 billion) to the Library of the Education Faculty (FKIP) of Syiah Kuala University and General Library of State Islamic University (IAIN). AIPRD's support will help improve teaching quality and resources particularly in the Islamic sub-sector.

Because of the earthquake and tsunami, an estimated 2000 education facilities including schools and higher education institutions, both public and private, were destroyed and damaged. Among them were the two state universities in Aceh, IAIN (State Islamic University) Arraniry and Syiah Kuala University.

“Responding to the needs of those institutions, AIPRD is providing support to revitalize the tertiary education sector and to support improvements to teacher training, curriculum development and education management after substantial loss and damage,” said Didi Marjimi, AIPRD Deputy Banda Aceh Manager.

Around 4000 books will be distributed to the Education Faculty (FKIP) Library of Syiah Kuala University and another 3000 books will be delivered to the General Library at IAIN.

“Aside from these contributions, AIPRD is also providing rental assistance to more than 800 lecturers at both universities as well as providing tuition fees for 2000 IAIN students,” Didi Marjimi said.

“A number of significant reconstruction projects are also well underway, such as the rehabilitation of the IAIN General Library building and construction of a Micro Teaching Laboratory at Syiah Kuala University,” he added.

For further information, please contact: