Government to regulate education bill<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Implementation of the national education bill would be set out in
\ngovernment regulations, House of Representatives Commission VI
\nfor education deputy chairwoman Chotidjah HM Saleh said
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The regulations would ensure effective implementation, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The controversial bill was passed on Wednesday night after the
\nHouse failed to reach agreement during a plenary session on
\nTuesday. -- to be taken out if the House delays to pass the bill
\nagain.<\/p>\n
Chotidjah, of the United Development Party (PPP), said that
\nalthough the regulations were the prerogative of the president,
\nthe House would provide input.<\/p>\n
She was commenting on concerns that the public and school
\nadministrations would have difficulty understanding the law.<\/p>\n
The controversy centers on Article 13 (1), point A, which
\nstipulates that all students, even in religious-based private
\nschools, must receive religious instruction in their own faith.<\/p>\n
The religious teachers will be provided by the central and
\nregional administrations.<\/p>\n
The chairman of a committee deliberating the education bill,
\nAnwar Arifin, said earlier that the bill was not the state
\ninterfering in religious matters.<\/p>\n
The Golkar faction legislator said the article was designed to
\nguarantee all students' basic rights.<\/p>\n
The bill was designed to ensure a Muslim student studying at a
\nCatholic school could be taught Islam by a Muslim teacher and
\nvice versa, he said.<\/p>\n
However, the bill does not say how many students from a
\nparticular faith a school must have before the state provides a
\nreligious teacher.<\/p>\n
Chotidjah said that during deliberations some legislators
\nproposed setting the minimum number of students at 20.<\/p>\n
The religious instruction would be knowledge based, not ritual
\nbased, she said.<\/p>\n
The bill does not provide for penalties for any breaches of
\nthe legislation, though the laws will be monitored by the House.<\/p>\n
The bill has divided the nation, with many Muslims supporting
\nthe bill, while minority Christian groups and secular Muslim
\norganizations, including the largest Muslim organization in
\nIndonesia, oppose it.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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