Basic Education for Poverty Alleviation: Community Perspectives from South Sulawesi, Indonesia

In efforts to combat worldwide poverty, education is considered a vital device. It is believed that basic education has a significant impact in stimulating a range of positive forces for change and to fight poverty. However, global efforts to ensure every child has access to quality basic education are still far from being achieved, especially in areas that are physically remote and isolated. Such issues are continually faced by Indonesia, which has many widespread regions and diverse communities and various traditional and customary beliefs, which can affect peoples' attitudes to the education of their children. In addition to an examination of several issues regarding the Government of Indonesia's quest to provide basic education to all Indonesian children, this thesis will also focus on a case study from two villages in the South Sulawesi Province. The study aims to explore the rural community perspectives on the value of basic education in people's lives, and whether it is important to improve their conditions and their children's future.