House set to endorse education bill on May 20<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ignoring public opposition to the national education bill, the
\nHouse of Representatives has set a May 20 date for the
\nendorsement of the controversial law.<\/p>\n
The date was set on Tuesday during an internal meeting of the
\nHouse's education commission.<\/p>\n
Anwar Arifin, deputy chairman of the commission, said after
\nthe meeting that his commission would ask the House's steering
\ncommittee to approve the proposed schedule.<\/p>\n
\"All commission members unanimously agreed on the date for the
\nendorsement. In this case, we are united,\" said Anwar, who also
\nchairs the working committee discussing the contentious bill.<\/p>\n
He denied that different groups remained opposed to the bill,
\nsaying critics had accepted the bill after receiving explanations
\nfrom legislators.<\/p>\n
He also asserted that the bill would not harm the interests of
\nany group in society.<\/p>\n
The latest rally against the bill took place on May 2, which
\nwas National Education Day.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction in the
\nHouse had asked for the bill's passage to be delayed and
\nsuggested that commission members hold further discussions on the
\ncontents of bill, saying national unity was at stake.<\/p>\n
There have been fears the bill will divide the nation along
\nreligious lines, with non-Muslims opposing the legislation and
\nMuslims favoring it.<\/p>\n
The controversy comes after people of all faiths in the
\ncountry united to protest the U.S.-led attack on Iraq.<\/p>\n
Many critics have lashed out against the bill for allowing too
\nmuch government intervention in school affairs.<\/p>\n
But the main point of contention is Article 13 of the bill,
\nwhich requires schools to provide religious instruction to
\nstudents in their own faith, regardless of the denomination of
\nthe school.<\/p>\n
Opposition to this article has been prompted by financial and
\nideological considerations.<\/p>\n
Financially, schools would have to spend more money to hire
\nteachers to provide religious instruction to students of
\ndifferent faiths.<\/p>\n
From an ideological point of view, it is feared the
\nrequirement would change the character of private religious
\nschools.<\/p>\n
Anwar said lawmakers had revised Article 13 to ensure the
\nreligious teachers would be paid for by the government.<\/p>\n
\"The religious teachers will be provided by the government or
\nthe local administration in the regions.\"<\/p>\n
Anwar also denied accusation that the inclusion of \"religious
\nmatters\" in the education bill was an \"act of state
\nintervention\", saying it was simply an effort to fulfill the
\nrights of the people.<\/p>\n
\"This is a result of the reform movement. The rights of people
\nhave become our concern,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, 28 members of the Forum of the Koran Reading
\nCommunity in Greater Jakarta and West Java demanded that the
\nHouse endorse the bill immediately.<\/p>\n
During a meeting with a member of the House's education
\ncommission, Chatidjah M. Saleh, the delegation emphasized that
\nthey believed the bill was in line with the rights of the people.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-set-to-endorse-education-bill-on-may-20-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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