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Economy
Education
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Since 1984, every child has a
compulsory school attendance for a six-year period. This obligation starts
from the age of six or eight. After that, the children are qualified to go
on to secondary school. State education is free of charge.
There is one University and two
polytechnics in Denpasar. For those who want to go beyond, have to go to
Jakarta on Java Island or have to study abroad.
Thanks to the compulsory
school, there has been a considerable reduction in illiteracy. In 1971,
illiteracy was still as high as 35%, especially in rural areas. |
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General
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Bali is predominantly an
agricultural province. 65% of the land is used for agricultural purposes.
The most important agricultural product of Bali is rice. Most of the rice
is sold to other islands of Indonesia. There is very few export of the
Balinese rice to other countries. Around the 16th century, the first
co-operatives organistations were created. These co-operatives are mainly
organisations of groups of peasants in one or more village communities.
The reasons why these co-operatives were created lies within the
co-operation that was required to create an extensive and workable
irrigation network. A water tax was introduced for the maintenance of the
network. |
Next to rice, vegetables, rubber, tea
and coffee are also important agricultural products.
Although there are still about 10.000
of fishermen, their income is so low they strongly depend on the aid of the
Indonesian government.
As Bali has a very good road network,
it is very comfortable to travel around the island compared to other South-East
Asian countries. Tourism has found it's way to Bali. Tourism is especially
focussed in the south next to the Airport of Kuta, in Nusa Dua, Ubud and Lovina.
Tourism is becoming the main of resource income for more and more Balinese
natives. In 2000, 720.000 visitors came to Bali, just under half of them are
from Indonesia. About 17% are from the US, 14 % are from Australia.
Although there is a very good road
network, there are no railroads on the island. Balinese rely on motorbikes, cars
(mainly small jeeps) and Bemo's as means of transport. Bemo's are small busses
that follow a fixed route between cities.
The average annual income per head is
around 580 USD.
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