`Education bill against constitution'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
\narguably the most influential faction in the House, has called
\nfor more time to discuss the controversial national education
\nbill to prevent friction in society.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan faction chairman Roy B.B. Janis said on
\nThursday that the substance of the bill was not in line with the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Roy, who was accompanied by faction members Firman Jaya Daeli,
\nEmir Moeis and Willem Tutuarima, refused to identify the
\ncontentious articles.<\/p>\n
The most debated issue in the bill is Article 13, which states
\nthat all students have the right to take religious classes given
\nby teachers of the same religion, regardless of whether they are
\nChristian, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim schools.<\/p>\n
Should the House endorse the bill, all religion-based schools
\nwill have to hire special religious instruction teachers from
\nvarious religious groups and provide special places of worship
\nfor each religion represented in its student body.<\/p>\n
The bill specifies that a school is required to provide
\nreligious teachers if students from a certain religion number
\nmore than ten.<\/p>\n
Debate has increased, with Islamic groups supporting the bill,
\nwhile Christian schools reject it.<\/p>\n
\"Should we insist on endorsing the bill, we will be at risk of
\nnational disintegration,\" Roy said.<\/p>\n
Taufikurrahman Saleh, chairman of the House special committee
\ndeliberating the bill, said Thursday that there were ideas to
\nendorse the bill on National Education Day on May 2 or on
\nNational Awakening Day on May 20.<\/p>\n
However, Taufikurrahman, of the National Awakening Party (PKB)
\nfaction, said the ideas had not been discussed. \"We will open
\ndiscussions on the bill next Monday.\"<\/p>\n
Separately in Surabaya, East Java, leaders of Islamic
\norganizations staged a rally outside the provincial legislative
\ncouncil in support of the endorsement of the national education
\nbill.<\/p>\n
The delegation, headed by Fasich of the Muhammadiyah Muslim
\ngroup, conveyed a joint statement by 39 Islamic organizations in
\nEast Java, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
The groups supported the stipulation that all students will
\nhave religious classes from teachers of their own religion.<\/p>\n
Should the bill be passed into law, the groups also urged the
\ngovernment to take action against those violating the law.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid also rejected the bill,
\nsaying the government must not meddle in religion.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, former chairman of the largest Muslim group in
\nIndonesian, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said the government should
\nfocus on its core roles.<\/p>\n
Jos Rahawadan of the Indonesian Nationhood Unity (KKI) faction
\nsaid that all Christian schools would display banners on May 2 in
\nrejection of the bill.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-bill-against-constitution-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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