Makassar, Indonesia – Vice Minister of Education and Culture, Prof. Dr. Musliar Kasim and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Program Director, Nancy Fisher-Gormley officially opened the National Level Training of Trainers for Primary Schools in Good Practices in Teaching and Learning and School Management. The training will help improve the professionalism of 135 provincial training facilitators including teachers, school principals, supervisors, and lecturers.

“USAID will help provide Indonesian students in primary and junior secondary schools with expanded access to high quality education,” said USAID Program Director Nancy Fisher-Gormley. “We hope this program will help students reach their full-potential and place them on the path to success.”

The USAID-supported training will give the facilitators practical skills to help them implement scientific approaches to learning, authentic assessment of student work, develop a reading culture and implement school management that supports learning success through the 2013 Curriculum. The facilitators who complete the training will be able to train thousands of additional mentors in their respected districts and institutions.

The five-year $83.7 million USAID PRIORITAS program (Prioritizing Reform, Innovation, and Opportunities for Reaching Indonesia’s Teachers) works with teachers, principals, school committees, and students. In collaboration with the government, the project will help implement the 2013 Curriculum by providing students with equitable access to good quality education and increasing teachers’ professionalism.

USAID’s education programs are an important part of the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, a commitment made by the country’s two presidents in 2010 to increase cooperation and deepen ties between the two nations. Education is one of USAID’s priorities in its partnership with the Government of Indonesia. A better educated workforce benefits families all across the country, and helps Indonesian students reach their full potential.