Mayor of Surabaya Urges Students to Preparation for Global Challenges

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) -- Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini has asked students in the East Java provincial capital to prepare themselves to face global challenges, including the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community on December 31. "Now, competition no longer involves only schools, cities and provinces but entire states, particularly members of the ASEAN," she said during the commemoration of National Education Day at Surya Park here on Saturday. Noting that human resources are the biggest asset of the Indonesian nation, the mayor stressed that the state was responsible for developing the quality of human resources. Education can create opportunities for everybody to lead a better life, she affirmed. "From now on, we must change our approach to education by not focusing on taking care of official affairs alone," she remarked. Rismaharini, who recently received a honoris causa doctorate degree from the Sepuluh November Institute of Technology in Surabaya, noted that the key to handling global competition was being intellectually smart, emotionally strong and physically healthy. "If the three elements are applied properly, children in Surabaya will be able to speak at a global level," she pointed out. ( *)Reported by Abdul Hakim