Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The United States is preparing US$165 million in funds to help improve the quality of education in Indonesia, its diplomat said.

"One of our government`s focuses is improving the quality of education in Indonesia. We are preparing at least US$165 million for that purpose," US Consul General for Indonesia Kristen Bauer, said after delivering a general lecture at the Ambon State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) on Thursday.

She said the funds were part of the US commitment to promoting the Indonesian education.

The US$165 million in funds would among others be used to provide scholarships to Indonesian students wishing to pursue higher education in the US, strengthen partnership among universities in Indonesia, and finance student exchange programs, she said.

"Besides our government, various universities in the US also make available scholarships to students here," she said.

According to her, the US was also preparing a number of programs aimed at improving the quality of education, ranging from elementary to senior high schools, in Indonesia. Under the programs, Indonesian teachers would be sent to the US to teach at a number of schools for several months or the other way around, she said.

Indonesia and the US could exchange information and experience in the educational field through a teacher exchange program, she said.

Kristen Bauer was in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon to offer her government`s programs aimed at improving the quality of education.

(SYS/S012/F001)

Editor: Suryanto
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