Prabowo-Hatta Pair Prioritizes Education Sector

Jakarta (Antara) - Presidential and vice presidential candidate pair Prabowo-Hatta Rajasa will prioritize the education sector in an effort to build an ethical society and a cultured and noble character in Indonesian people. "The essence of our vision and mission is based on the philosophical foundation of Pancasila (state ideology) and the 1945 Constitution, and it becomes a strong foundation for formulating policies for the future of Indonesia. Education is a top priority to build an ethical society and a cultured and noble character," Hatta Rajasa said here on Thursday. Hatta made the remarks at the declaration event of Women Supporters for the Prabowo-Hatta pair at the Polonia House, East Jakarta, on Thursday. According to Hatta, the main element of education is family. The family can provide or foster children to develop character and compassion as their capital base. "I have talked for hours with Professor Arif Rahman (education expert) regarding the importance of moral education. If we are careless, then rampant violence against women can occur like acts of sexual abuse on our children. That's an extraordinary criminal act, so it must be handled with extraordinary action," he remarked. The former senior economic minister further said he and his running mate are determined to develop an equitable and inclusive education sector. "Prabowo-Hatta pair is determined that the education age should be 12 years and that education costs are covered by the state," Hatta said. Two presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs, Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla and the Prabowo-Hatta Rajasa, will contest in the July 9 presidential election. The Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo is supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) with 207 seats or 36.96 percent of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s 560 seats. Meanwhile, the Prabowo-Hatta duo is supported by the Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party, the Prosperous Justice Party, the United Development Party (PPP), and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) with 292 seats or 52.14 percent in the parliament. (*) Reporting by Azis Kurmala