VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that the Sanggar Bimbingan educational institution, which is run independently, ensures that the right to education for children of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in Malaysia is fulfilled.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that the Sanggar Bimbingan was established to provide basic education for PMI children and also to prepare children who return to Indonesia to continue their education in their homeland.

"Education is one of the important issues discussed in cooperation with Malaysia, especially access to education for our PMI children," said Retno, as stated in a press statement regarding a working visit to Malaysia, Wednesday.

Retno admitted that she had met with around 150 Sanggar Bimbingan students upon arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday (2/7), starting her working visit in Malaysia.

There are at least 57 Sanggar Bimbingan schools spread throughout the Malaysian Peninsula that are open to PMI children, she said.

Therefore, education will remain a priority in the issue of protecting Indonesian citizens and Indonesian diplomacy in Malaysia. Retno also emphasized the importance of ensuring access to education for PMI children, including through the Sanggar Bimbingan facility.

"In the meeting with the children (Sanggar Bimbingan), I also conveyed that the state will continue to try to be present, provide assistance and protection for them," said Retno.

According to ANTARA records, a number of Sanggar Bimbingan in Malaysia have collaborated with the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to ensure that participants in the studio receive a national student registration number, so that they can continue their education in Indonesia smoothly.

The Sanggar Bimbingan for PMI children in Malaysia is also the destination for the implementation of the Real Work Lecture (KKN) teaching practice by a number of Indonesian students, such as that carried out by students from Jenderal Soedirman University in Purwokerto earlier this year.

Meanwhile, a number of other issues discussed during Retno's working visit to Malaysia included the border line agreement, cooperation in handling TPPO, the Myanmar issue, and support for Palestine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also emphasized Indonesia's support for Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN next year.