"I am very happy when I got invited by the National Rector Forum that compel everyone to address issues on children, disabilities, and poverty together," Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini stated on Tuesday.
Those issues would be more difficult to address if handled alone, Rismaharini remarked. Thus, she responded positively to the call for collaborative efforts to address social issues.
"By collaborating to address the poverty issue and social issues, we are confident that we can resolve it," she noted.
The minister affirmed that there are different approaches to resolve issues pertaining to children, disability, and poverty.
She cited the issue of sexual violence at schools, for example, which could be resolved through sex education since early on.
"I and other parents in Indonesia are concerned of the many predators, who harm children. I (remind) educators, particularly on the early childhood education program and elementary schools, to make them understand, so when they grow up, they have (good) morale," she remarked.
Moreover, Rismaharini also calls for educators to teach children about disaster mitigation.
"I also (remind) since the beginning, considering Indonesia's position in the ring of fire. Makes it an area filled with disasters, (such as) megathrust. Since they were little, we have to teach children on ways to mitigate disasters, should they happen," she elaborated.
The 19 state universities included in the collaboration are Makassar State University, Padang State University, Medan State University, Jakarta State University, Indonesia University of Education, and Semarang State University.
Moreover, Yogyakarta State University, Surabaya State University, Ganesha University of Education, Gorontalo State University, and Malang University are also part of the collaboration.
The collaboration also included Manado State University, Malikussaleh University, Mulawarman University, Lambung Mangkurat University, Borneo Tarakan University, Haluoleo University, West Sulawesi University, and Hassanudin University.
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Translator: M Hasanuddin, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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