Search

Indonesia has dramatically increased school enrolment at the secondary level over the past several decades, as reflected in national statistics. However, significant variation in enrolment rates remains across regions and genders. In some areas, nearly all youth complete secondary school; in others fewer than half attend. This study investigates the reasons for secondary school dropout in Banten and Aceh, two provinces of Indonesia with lower-than-average secondary school enrolment rates. We interviewed 28 out-of-school youth and conducted focus groups and observations at non-formal education programs serving dropouts. We find that high costs for secondary school were the overwhelming reason for dropout, with a subset of boys also reporting behavioural issues as a contributing factor. While costs affected adolescent boys and girls equally, the options facing them after dropout differed sharply. The findings point to the need for easier paths back into formal education for youth who have dropped out.

Palm sugar is one of the potential commodities in Banten Province, Indonesia. The palm sugar-based innovations are needed to increase the palm sugar market. One of the innovations proposed in this research was the production of palm sugar-soybean extract which can be used as a powdered drink or sweetener in a practical form. This research aimed to study the effect of the palm sugar to soybean extract ratio on the hedonic test responses and nutritional value. Palm sugar solution and soybean extract were mixed in various ratios namely 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 on a volume basis. The solution mixture was heated to evaporate all water and form a palm sugar-soybean extract crystal. The crystal was then crushed and sieved into an 80-mesh powder. The ratio of 70:30 resulted in the best product composition which obtained “like very much” responses and contained the best nutritional value namely 91.15 % of total sugar, 4.66 % of protein, and 1.12 % of fat. The products also contained antioxidants and essential elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]