Surabaya Mayor Appreciates PAUD Teachers Role in Building Children's Character

Surabaya (Antara Jatim) - Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini has appreciated the role that teachers at the early childhood education [PAUD] centers play in building children's character, and said this goes a long way in preventing corruption in Indonesia.

"I highly support it because a child's character is formed by the time he or she reaches the age of 5 years," she said while addressing a seminar, titled, "Anti-corruption: Teachers are the engine of change," at the Surabaya Convention Hall on the Arief Rachman Hakim Street on Tuesday.

The PAUD teachers play an important role in changing the way children look at something. "What this country will look like in the future depends on our children. If we groom them wrongly, they will be at a disadvantage compared to children from other countries who may have a better character," she said.

The mayor expressed her support for the seminar organized by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), adding that the PAUD teachers play a significant role in building children's character.

If they are educated properly since their childhood, they will grow into generations with a strong character, she said.

The seminar brought together some 1,000 PAUD teachers across Surabaya. Also present at the event were Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Basaria Panjaitan. (*)