Media Release Innovation for Indonesia’s School Children (INOVASI) Official launch of the Australia – Indonesia partnership in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Kupang, 2 November 2017 – East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia for the implementation of the INOVASI program in Sumba, NTT. The INOVASI program is an education partnership that works to improve the quality of learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy in basic education. This is the second provincial partnership for INOVASI in Indonesia. INOVASI signed its first MoU with West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province in June 2016. Program implementation will take place in all four districts of Sumba, NTT, including Southwest Sumba, West Sumba, Central Sumba, and East Sumba. The signing of the MoU took place in Fernandez Hall, NTT Governor’s Office, between the NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya, and the Head of the Research and Development Agency (Balitbang) Dr. Totok Suprayitno. The signing was witnessed by Ms. Michelle Lowe, Counsellor for Human Development from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. According to NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya, the launch of the INOVASI program in NTT demonstrates the government’s determination and support, working with program partners, to improve the quality of education in Sumba – especially in basic education. “We welcome the INOVASI program in NTT, as it will seek to improve student learning outcomes, especially in the fields of literacy and numeracy”. This education partnership is further strengthened by the signing of an MoU between the Governor of NTT with each Regent in the four districts of Sumba, namely Regent of Southwest Sumba Markus Dairo Talu, Regent of West Sumba District Agustinus Niga Dapawole, Regent of Central Sumba Regency Umbu Sappi Pateduk, and Regent of East Sumba Regency Gidion Mbilijora. Said the Head of Indonesia’s Research and Development Agency, Dr. Totok Suprayitno, “we are very proud of the support and cooperation provided by the provincial government in NTT, which is very committed to making changes in education. The real impact of the INOVASI program will be seen in the classroom, and in learning. We will strengthen and support teachers and their teaching practices in the classroom. Emphasis has now moved from the number of students attending class, to how well they are learning and whether they can be part of a productive society in the future”. The INOVASI program, in line with the Indonesian government’s National Literacy Movement, will work with teachers, parents, principals, district governments and other key education stakeholders to explore and understand ways to improve student learning outcomes, particularly with regards to literacy and numeracy skills. INOVASI will work to understand what does and doesn’t work to improve education quality at the classroom level. “The INOVASI program is an important partnership between the Australian and Indonesian governments. We have been working together for more than 10 years to strengthen the education system in Indonesia. We believe that the quality of education is very important for Indonesia, and can contribute directly to human and community development, as well as a healthy and productive workforce”, said Michelle Lowe, Counsellor for Human Development from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. For more information, please contact: Public Relations Bureau INOVASI Communications Team Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected] INOVASI Facebook: /InovasiPendidikanAIP .