Indonesia [Population education in countries of the region].

Indonesia currently faces 5 population problems: 1) large total population, estimated by 1980 census data at 147,383,075; 2) rapid population growth, increasing at the rate of 2.8 million annually by 1980; 3) a young population distribution, with 44% of the population under age 15; 4) uneven population distribution; and 5) rapid urbanization. The National Family Planning Coordinating Board (NFPCB), established in 1970 to plan and control family planning and population education, has set the goal of reducing the 1971 fertility rate by 50% by 1990. Population education is aimed at achieving voluntary acceptance of the small family idea. This is to be attained through awareness of the factors causing rapid population growth and the close interaction between such growth and development programs to enhance the standard of living. The population education program, which is administered by the Department of Education and Culture in cooperation with the NFPCB, underwent an orientation stage in 1970-72 and a pilot project stage in 1973-75. In the latter stage, teaching materials were developed and tested in 30 junior high schools. During the institutionalization stage, 1976-79, the program was systematically integrated into the educational system. Population topics are integrated with relevant subject areas from the 4th grade of elementary school to the 3rd grade of senior high school. A cell system is used to train teachers, who in turn train teachers in their respective schools. Population education has also been introduced into Indonesia’s subsidiary schools under religious and Armed Forces jurisdiction. Current population education activities include the training of an additional 50,000 teachers and provision of teaching kits, slide projectors, and textbooks to all of the 160 nonformal learning centers. In addition, a number of government agencies, including the Ministries of Sports and Culture, Education, Health, Transmigration, Information, Religious Affairs, Home Affairs, and Defense, are involved in education programs aimed at those ages 10-45 who are outside of the educational system.