"We prepare the Indonesian people to be superior from the time they are in the womb until they have grown up to be independent to improve their welfare and the welfare of their families," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated in his address at the 2018 annual session of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the Parliament Building, here, Thursday, a day prior to the Indonesian Independence Day celebration, which falls on Aug. 17.
Every Indonesian must make sure that every Indonesian baby is born healthy, grows up with adequate nutrition and is free from stunting, he remarked. Indonesia`s children must go to school, he added.
"We have realized this commitment by providing Smart Indonesian Cards to more than 20 million students in 2017 and by expanding the `Bidik Misi` scholarship program for university students," the Head of State noted.
Education is the stairway to better welfare, he said, adding that the nation must therefore work ceaselessly for the improvement of the welfare of the people.
Among those present at the MPR annual session were Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, former president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, former president Try Sutrisno, former president Boediono, ministers, and foreign ambassadors.
Reporting by Dewanto Samodro
Editing by Fardah Assegaf
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
