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On September 7 and 8, 2009, USAID’s Decentralized Basic Education 1 (DBE1) hosted a workshop in Banda Aceh to mark expansion of its programs from six to 18 districts in Aceh. The expansion will start with six new districts namely Aceh Barat, Nagan Raya, Aceh Barat Daya, Aceh Timur, Kota Langsa, and Tamiang, The remaining twelve districts, namely Bener Meriah, Gayo Lues, Aceh Tenggara, Subulussalam, Singkil, Simeulue, Aceh Selatan, Aceh Jaya, Sabang, Pidie Jaya, Lhokesumawe and Aceh Utara, will participate in approximately January 2010. With the expansion, it is hoped that all districts in Aceh will have developed strategic plans to improve education based on sound financial analysis, good data, involvement of community members and other stakeholders, and coordination with the province.

Dan Moulton, DBE1 Chief of Party, signed DBE1 agreement with six Aceh districts while Bapak Muhammad Nazar, Aceh Vice Governor (far right) looked on

The event was attended by Vice Governor of Aceh, Bapak Muhammad Nazar, together with representatives from Aceh Provincial Education Office, Office of Religious Affairs, Provincial Development and Planning Board, and Provincial Education Council (MPD.) The six districts mentioned above were also represented by their high-level officials. In his remarks, the Vice Governor of Aceh mentioned that, although Aceh is known to produce great and courageous people in the past, it is equally important to prepare Aceh’s future generation with necessary skills, knowledge and attitude to succeed in competitive environment. The Vice Governor of Aceh then proceeded with officially opening the workshop. The event was concluded with signing ceremony of Work Cooperation Framework between representatives of DBE1 and the six districts.

During the second day, stakeholders from the six districts were provided with information on USAID effort to support improvement of basic education quality in Indonesia as well as DBE1 programs at district level. They also learned directly from Head of Aceh Besar and Head of Aceh Tengah Districts on their districts’ experience and lessons learned from taking part in DBE1 programs for the past few years. In his remark, Bapak Bukhari Daud, Head of Aceh Besar district, mentioned that DBE1 has yielded positive results so far because it essentially tries to give the responsibility and ownership of planning and implementation of education policies back to schools and community members. Meanwhile, Head of Aceh Tengah district, Bapak Nasaruddin, stated that some of DBE1 positive results included improvement of human resource quality at DBE1-partner schools. He also mentioned that there was more transparency and accountability among school stakeholders (principals, teachers, committee and community members.) Aceh Tengah was also able to finalize its education-sector strategic planning document, analysis of school unit cost, as well as district’s education finance analysis. Representatives of six districts responded very positively to these sessions and stated that they were ready to take part in DBE1 programs.

Bapak Bukhari Daud, Head of Aceh Besar district shared the district’s positive experience and lessons learned to other districts representatives. Bapak Nasaruddin, Head of Aceh Tengah district (third from left) also took part in this session

Since 2006 DBE1 has been working in five Aceh districts: Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie, Bireuen and Aceh Tengah. An integrated program to support school-based management has been implemented in 143 schools and madrasah. This includes school-development planning, leadership training, school committee strengthening, and a school database system. At district level, DBE1 has supported districts to conduct financial analysis, and to collate and analyze relevant data using a district planning information support system. Based on this data and improved community consultation, DBE1 has helped districts to prepare strategic education plans. Working together with the private sector, DBE1 also assisted more than 300 young people from tsunami-affected areas in Aceh to take part in training of various vocational skills. In 2007, DBE1 took part in the development of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Education Strategic Plan (NADESP).

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