AntaraBeijing (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Language Teaching Association for Foreign Speakers (APBIPA) in China was formed through an open election of chairmen in Beijing.
"This association will accommodate various interests related to the BIPA teaching system (Indonesian for Foreign Speakers)," Education Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Yaya Sutarya, stated on Saturday.
The organization will also accommodate BIPA teachers in 12 universities spread across various regions of mainland China.
The APBIPA was formed after a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Revitalizing the Development of the Indonesian Language Study Program in the PRC held in Beijing from Thursday (Mar 21).
Prof. Emi Emilia was head of the Center for Language Strategy and Diplomacy Development (PPSDK) of the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.
"With this forum, we will be able to hold FGD regularly," the woman, who claimed to be grateful for the formation of a new association in China, remarked.
Although it is not common practice to hold open election of chairpersons in China, Indonesian language lecturers, who are mostly local residents, are familiar with the climate of democracy in Indonesia.
The lecturers, on an average, have received Indonesian Language and Literature education, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in several universities in Indonesia.
Hence, they are not averse to the method of selection that was guided directly by Atdik (the education attache) and witnessed by the head of the PPSDK and the ranks of diplomats from several Indonesian representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
Atdik initially requested three representatives of Indonesian language lecturers from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to stand up and introduce themselves as well as express their willingness in line with the campaign.
Of the two open rounds of choice, the election of APBIPA chairman was done from the representatives from Beijing, while representatives of Guangzhou and Shanghai, respectively for the positions of secretaries and treasurers.
*** 3 ***
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
