Learning Assistance Program for Islamic Schools (LAPIS)

Background

Islamic schools enroll around 15 per cent of Indonesian school aged children, and play a critical role in educating girls and poor students. LAPIS aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Islamic primary and junior secondary schools.

Description

LAPIS implemented a program of immediate support activities in its first 12 months. A Strategy and Implementation Plan is currently being finalised which will guide the scaling-up of Australian support for Islamic schools over the coming two. The ongoing program will involve investment in high-impact local and international initiatives, coordination with existing Australian projects relevant to the Islamic education sub-sector, establishment of synergies with other donor initiatives and establishment of strategic interventions including teacher improvement. The focus will be on the 90 per cent of Islamic schools which are private and predominantly teach the national curriculum.

Achievements/outcomes

• Establishment of a wide LAPIS stakeholder network, building relationships and identifying opportunities for support.
• Identification of priority needs for Islamic schools in 805 schools in 13 provinces.
• Responding to urgent needs, including provision of 80 tonnes of equipment and resources for Islamic junior secondary schools in Aceh and the Banda Aceh State Institute of Islamic Studies.
• Coordinating the implementation of more than 40 small scale activities in the Islamic Education sub sector, including in school-based management and pedagogy, provision of text books and library development, basic English language training and alternative income generation.

This page was last updated on 22 May 2007

© Commonwealth of Australia