President backs controversial school exams

Despite his earlier request for a review, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appears to have thrown his weight behind his subordinate’s decision to retain the controversial final national school exams.

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh said after a Cabinet meeting with the President on education and health issues, that the government would continue to hold the exams this year, regardless of lingering controversy and the Supreme Court order for the government to first improve the quality of education across the country.

“The national exams are part of our evaluation system, which is part of the studying and teaching process. It is a method [to evaluate], and there are always pluses and minuses in a method,” Nuh told a press conference at the Presidential Office.

“However, at the moment, and with various considerations, the [national exams] is the most appropriate means of assessment. The exams have more positive aspects than negative ones.”

Earlier, while opening the three-hour Cabinet meeting, Yudhoyono expressed concern over the implementation of the exams, which have been plagued with controversy for many years.

Students across the country have come to dread the national exams because the assessment determines their eligibility to graduate from elementary and secondary schools, yet it has seen increasingly difficult passing standards applied equally across the country, regardless of the disparities in education quality among regions.

In his opening speech, Yudhoyono offered two options to improve the public acceptance of the exams; first by allowing failing students to take remedial exams, and second by reviving the Ebtanas system that was used in the 1990s.

“I believe that the UN shouldn’t be the only tool to measure [students’ eligibility to graduate]. It should be combined with other assesments,” he said.

Nuh said that in the 1990s, teachers measured students’ abilities using a system combining results of the school’s own exams and the national-level exams, called Ebtanas.

Earlier, Nuh said, a student’s eligibility for graduation was determined simply by tests schools organized themselves.

Now, students’ eligibility is determined by four factors, and not solely by the national exams — as many may believe.

“First, they have to have finished the school’s education programs. Second, they have to generally
show good morals. Third, they have to pass exams organized by their own school. Fourth, they have to pass the national exams,” the minister said.

He added that there should be no more concerns regarding the exam because his ministry had adopted what the President suggested in his first suggestion, i.e. to allow failing students to take a remedial exam one month after the original exam.

Nuh said the current national exams were the best system, because it could simultaneously help the government map the quality of education in each region.

“So we can improve the quality of teachers and upgrade education facilities in worse-performing regions,” he said.

Nuh denied that the government was defying the September 2009 Supreme Court ruling in favor of a civil lawsuit rejecting the national exams.

He said that despite media reports, the court did not order the government to scrap the exams, but to improve the quality of education in regions to make them better prepared for the exams.

“And that’s what we’ve been working on over the past few years,” Nuh said.

Source :

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/08/president-backs-controversial-school-exams.html

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Palaces in Cirebon

IN THE CITY Cirebon, historic sites worth visiting are the two palace brothers, the royal palace and the royal palace Kesepuhan Kanoman.

Based on historical records, as Sunan Gunung Jati was still alive, Cirebon has only one court. However, after death, the palace had split into two by the Dutch. The first royal palace royal palace there is Kasepuhan.

Entering the Palace Kesepuhan area, you will be greeted by a gate made of red brick story. The front of the palace is usually called by Siti Hinggil or high ground, facing directly toward the field where the palace used to gather the troops.

After passing Siti Hinggil-shaped gate and a long fence, other buildings of interest is the Mande Sunando Semar. The building was made of wood. Formerly used as a seat palace advisers. The building has two carved pillars symbolizing prosperity.

Marks the triumph of the palace in his day, can be seen with many ceramics from the Ming Dynasty China attached to the wall, starting at the front gate, to the inside of the palace.

"Ceramics China symbolizes that the relationship was once the palace of Cirebon with China very well. In fact, one of Sunan Gunung Jati's wife is the daughter of China," said the guide in the Palace Kasepuhan, Sugiman.

Kasepuhan royal palace built in 1529 as an extension of the oldest royal palace in Cirebon, Pakungwati, which was built by Prince Cakrabuana, the founder of Cirebon in 1445. The glory of this palace is also seen in a mosque called Masjid Agung Sang Cipta Rasa is in Kasepuhan Palace complex, so beautiful and was built in 1549.

This royal palace also has a sacred golden carriage. The train was called the Lion Barong. Since 1942, this train is not used anymore, and only issued for every 1 Syawal bath.

"The train is golden lion Barong has an interesting technology, like the spokes of a wheel made curved inward, so that water and dirt does not enter into the train," said Sugiman.

If Palace Kasepuhan seemed so grand and well groomed, not so with Kanoman Palace. Unforgettable impression on the royal palace was built in 1662 by Amangkurat I was. To enter this palace, visitors must enter from Market Kanoman. In fact, the high robustness of the gate with more than four meters, was in vain with the number of rickshaws and sidewalk stalls, which mangkaldi below.

Gloomy impression is slightly changed for the better when he entered the palace gates on the inside. Identical with the color pink, the main gate of the palace became a symbol of the triumph Kanoman in the past. Almost the same as Kasepuhan Palace, Kanoman also displaying dozens of antique plates from the Ming Dynasty at the main gate. But unfortunately, many are lost and taken out thieves antiques so many holes in the gate.

"Pendopo the Palace called Pendopo Kanoman Pujinem with 17 poles, there is also a special room called Rabayaksa," said guide Kanoman Palace, Rohim.

Historically, the palace Kanoman younger than Kasepuhan. Kanoman derived from anom which means "young". Splitting of the palace in Cirebon power represented by the two palaces, Kasepuhan and Kanoman.

Gudeg Jogja

If we asked about the traditional foods of Jogja, we would spontaneously replied "Gudeg". Because it is a food Gudeg of Yogyakarta. Like Sate Madura and Pempek Palembang, Yogyakarta Gudeg also very familiar in the ears of Indonesian society. Even foreign tourists even if the visit to Yogyakarta, most of them would find Gudeg, because Gudeg also been known by the world community. In Yogyakarta itself Gudeg almost in all areas Yogyakarta, the center of Gudeg on Wijilan Street to remote areas in the province of DIY.

Special on Wijilan Street, there are many stores selling Gudeg with price and taste vary. Besides Gudeg, at Wijilan Street we can also find a variety of gifts typical of Jogja. Particularly in the Palace District, Gudeg can we find in some other places, such as in restaurants or food stalls, food stalls scattered in various parts of the Palace District.

Usually to entice prospective buyers, sellers pack Gudeg Gudeg wares with attractive packaging, which is served with kendhil, the container made of clay. In addition to attract more potential buyers, it also makes kendhil Gudeg more distinctive taste and better. Gudeg kendhil can we find in almost any place that sells Gudeg.

Based Gudeg young jackfruit stewed in conjunction with special spices, Santen, at the bottom and the top pan ingredients to boil boiled the leaf were young teak. To get the flavor and color Gudeg perfect and delicious, the material is boiled for about overnight. Teak leaves are used to obtain an attractive color Gudeg. For his areh or broth made from coconut milk, spices, and turmeric for coloring. Broth is poured on top Gudeg already ready to serve, only a little, but gravy is also sprinkled with fried onions.

Gudeg has a sweet taste. Gudeg usually served with warm rice, boiled eggs, chicken, chicken claw, tofu, tempeh, krupuk, and others. To drink mate, can drink anything; such as hot tea, warm orange, iced tea, ice lemon, white water, and others. It was less complete if a visit to Yogyakarta without feeling Gudeg.

Source :
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President asks govt agencies to implement budgets promptly

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reminded all administrative authorities to implement their work programs in 2010 and not to postpone implementation of their budgets.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the statement here on Tuesday when handing over a List of Approved Projects (DIPA) 2010 to ministries and departments as well as regional administrations.

All regulations on budget disbursement and policies on goods and services procurement were available, the head of state said.

Therefore, there was no excuse for postponing the implementation of budgets, he said.

The head of state presented the DIPAs from the 2010 State Budget at the State Palace at a ceremony attended by Vice President Boediono, all cabinet ministers and 33 provincial governors from across the country.

The government is expected to allocate funds from the 2010 State Budget amounting to Rp1,047.7 trillion or 15.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

The allocation of state budget funds for the central government is estimated at Rp725.2 trillion or 12.1 percent from the state budget, or up Rp79.8 trillion or 12.4 percent from Rp645.4 trillion in the 2009 state budget.

"The larger state budget should be spent as best as possible for the improvement of the people`s welfare," the president said.

Among government institutions and ministries receiving the largest amounts of DIPA funds totaling Rp340.1 trillion were the defense ministry (Rp42.3 trillion), the national education ministry (Rp55.2 trillion), the public works ministry (Rp34.8 trillion) , the religious affairs ministry (Rp27.2 trillion), the national police (Rp27.2 trillion) and the health ministry (Rp21.4 trillion). The transportation ministry (Rp15.8 trillion).

The president on the occasion presented DIPA funds to National Education Minister M Nuh for the 2010 budget for national education, and to Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati as the state`s general treasurer.

The 33 governors would also receive DIPA funds from President Yudhoyono for their 2010 regional budgets.(*)


Source :
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1262733478/president-asks-govt-agencies-to-implement-budgets-promptly
http://danisugiri.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/budget_1918.jpg

World Community Express Post-Death Pain grief Gus Durgus dur

The death of former Indonesian president to four brought sorrow to the international world. In the social networking sites, Twitter and Facebook, dozens of the world community expressed their grief after the death of a man who often called Gus Dur is. One German citizen, Kennedy, in the account for twitternya convey testimoninya Gus Dur. "Gus Dur is more awesome than Chuck Norriss" he wrote in twitternya account.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian citizen, Deenazah, expressing a sense of loss over the death of Gus Dur. "Love Gus Dur's a lot! My deepest Condolence, "he wrote in facebooknya account.

Not only the people of the world, some Indonesian people living abroad are also soluble in an atmosphere of grief. One of them is Heryadi. In twitternya account, the man who lived in the United States was expressing his admiration for the thought Gus Dur.

"Is right," If in the past I said that the House of Representatives was a kindergarten, now I say it is a playgroup. " So long, Mister "wrote Heryadi in twitter account RIP" Gus Dur "

Until now twitter and facebook pages and hold dibanjuri expression of grief and loss over the death of Gus Dur. The expression of grief was almost touching the 10 thousand.

Indonesia mourns former president Wahid, dead at 69

Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid died in hospital on Wednesday aged 69, after a long battle with illness, a party official said.

Wahid was Indonesia's fourth president, coming to power in 1999 after the country's first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.

Popularly known as Gus Dur, he was practically blind, diabetic and had suffered strokes.

Doctor Aris Wibudi of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta said Wahid died at 18:45 (1345 GMT) due to complications arising from diabetes and stroke.

His younger brother, Salahuddin Wahid, told AFP the family was "shocked, sad and grieving".

"He was humorous, happy, clever, brave and really cared about the community. He was full of life and his fighting spirit was strong. Even when he was sick, he would fight on," he said.

Wahid rose to political prominence through his role as a leader of one of the country's biggest mass Islamic movements, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), having been a strong critic of Suharto during the general's three-decade rule.

He defeated Megawati Sukarnoputri to scoop the presidency in a parliamentary vote, even though her Democratic Party of Struggle put in the strongest showing in a general election earlier in 1999.

His time in government was an exciting period of democratic change under the country's post-Suharto "Reformasi" drive, and Wahid was an enthusiastic advocate of ethnic and religious tolerance.

But there were also fears the unwieldy, Muslim-majority archipelago of 234 million people would crumble under the weight of separatist and sectarian conflicts in places like Aceh, Papua and the Malukus.

Violent Islamic extremism reared its head with the coordinated Christmas-eve bombings of churches in Jakarta and other cities in 2000, which killed 18 people and were blamed on regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

Wahid's response was to crack down on Islamist extremists while seeking dialogue and conciliation with ethnic separatists, the latter strategy putting him at odds both with the military and the Jakarta elite.

He also broke a taboo in Indonesian politics by calling for diplomatic relations with Israel, and backed the lifting of a Cold War-era ban on communism.

It was the liberal and democratic ideas that had earned him international respect that ironically were often at the core of the steady growth of opposition to his leadership.

A moderate religious scholar, Wahid was also criticised in office for his erratic leadership style and was sacked by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Hailing from a prominent Muslim family in Jombang, East Java, the father of four daughters held a degree in Arabic studies from Cairo University and another in literature from Baghdad University.

Despite his obvious ailments, Wahid remained active in public affairs until his death as a senior leader of the 40-million-strong NU.

NU vice-president Maskuri Abdillah said Wahid -- who studied English, German, Arabic, French and Russian -- would be remembered as a "pluralist" who stood for tolerance in the most populous Muslim-majority country.

"His death is a big loss not just to Nahdlatul Ulama, but also to Indonesians from all races and faiths," he told AFP.

"He was a humorous person who loved to crack jokes so people could feel at ease. He would always crack jokes at social events to reduce tension and people would warm up to him easily."

In September 2007 he announced that he would campaign for the presidency in 2009 if asked by the movement's top clerics -- whom he referred to as the "elders" -- but in the end he did not get the call.

Wahid's National Awakening Party won only 4.9 percent of the vote in general elections earlier this year, less than half its showing in 2004, but it remains strong in its East Java heartland.

Indonesia held its first direct presidential elections in 2004, which were won by the incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.