Monday, April 11, 2011

NTB to Increase Budget for Education and Health Services

Mataram - The provincial government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) will increase its education budget from Rp51.522 billion in 2008 to Rp240.722 billion this year.

In addition, the budget for health services will be Rp147.575 billion this year, compared to only Rp109.774 billion in 2008.

The total regional budget will be Rp1.246 trillion.

I Gde Putu Ariyadi, spokesperson for the NTB provincial government, on Tuesday (20/1) told Tempo that the increases were part of the programs of NTB Governor Muhammad Zainul Madjdi and his deputy Badrul Munir.

”Most of the budget will be distributed to cities and regencies,” he said.

However, Ariyadi explained that the budget can only cover half of all poor people.

The education budget will distributed through the Regional Education, Youth, and Sport Affairs department and will amount to Rp24.057 billion.

The government will also distribute funds to help regencies and cities to pay their educational expenses and contract-based teachers amounting to Rp130.42 billion.

Grants will be given to private and state educational institutions such as the Medical Faculty of Mataram University and medical laboratories at vocational high schools, the Mataram Islamic State University, the Pertiwi kindergarten, and also to rehabilitate private schools, with a total amount of Rp12.91 billion

The government will also provide financial aid to Islamic boarding schools, the school accreditation board, and scholarships for poor students with a total amount of Rp63.588 billion.

The total budget for health services is Rp147.575 billion.

Rp37.021 billion of this will be distributed through the regional health office, Rp88.924 billion for financing public hospitals, Rp11.544 billion for mental hospitals and Rp9.035 billion for health services for poor people. SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID

Source: http://www.tempointeractive.com (January 20, 2008)