President to Discuss 2013 Curriculum

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to chair a limited cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the latest development of 2013 school curriculum. A number of related ministers will attend the meeting, planned to be held at 2 pm at the presidential office. Culture and Education Minister Muhammad Nuh has said the government continued to adjust textbooks with the new curriculum that would be implemented in July this year. "We are adjusting the textbooks with the new curriculum and after it is completed, we will train the teaches during holiday season in June," Muhammad Nuh said at the presidential office recently. Meanwhile, Vice President Boediono early in March ordered the culture and education minister to prepare the 2013 curriculum as well as possible in order to be implemented on time in July. "The vice president responded positively to the 2013 curriculum development and asked me to continue to prepare it optimally," Muhammad Nuh said. According to him, the vice president said the implementation of the curriculum could be a great momentum for the improvement of the national education. The Vice President also said that the curriculum implementation should not diminish the public trust about the course of study, Nuh said. Mohammad Nuh and the Deputy Minister of Education and Culture, Musliar Kasim, met with Vice President Boediono early in March to report the latest update of the 2013 curriculum development. On the occasion, the Minister also reported the preparation of textbooks as reference materials used in the Elementary School, and Junior and Senior High Schools that meet the 2013 curriculum. He said the textbooks, related to the new curriculum, were ready to be printed and distributed after some revisions. The minister added that the government would welcome any constructive criticism and suggestion from anyone about the new curriculum. (*)