Five-day school week a hot political issue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The five-day school week plan, now being tried
\nat many schools, has become a hot political item overnight with
\nmany politicians urging the government to back down on the plan.<\/p>\n
The shorter week -- schools currently operate on a six-day
\nweek basis -- has come in for unexpected resistance from parents,
\nschool administrators, teachers and Moslem leaders, although not
\nso much from the children themselves.<\/p>\n
Their chief objection is that by cramming the studying hours
\ninto five days instead of six, most children are missing out on
\nvarious extra-curriculum activities they normally do after
\nschool. This include attending afternoon religious schools.<\/p>\n
Many parents object because they will have to give out more
\npocket money to their children, who will spend longer hours at
\nschool from Monday to Friday.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto, responding to the criticisms of the plan,
\nyesterday gave his assurances that the decision is not final and
\nthat the government will take into account the objections raised.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's position was reported by Aisyah Amini, a deputy
\nchief of the United Development Party, when she, along with other
\nparty leaders visited the Merdeka Palace to introduce themselves
\nfollowing their election to the party board last month.<\/p>\n
Aisyah said the party is monitoring the introduction of the
\nplan and has found that many students have had to stop attending
\nafternoon religious schools because of the longer hours they
\nspend at school now.<\/p>\n
Many students, who help their parents earn a living after
\nschool, are also deprived of this opportunity under the five-day
\nschool week, she said.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the ruling political organization, yesterday joined in
\nthe call for the government to go easy on the plan because of
\ndifficulties being encountered, as it is being implemented, at
\nthe expense of the teaching.<\/p>\n
The government is also phasing in the five-day week for civil
\nservants who, until recently, worked six days a week. There was
\nno resistance whatsoever and many government agencies are
\nplanning to implement the plan early next year, well ahead of the
\nAugust deadline. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/five-day-school-week-a-hot-political-issue-1447893297",
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