Islamic schools to get holidays<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Students of the Muhammadiyah schools in Central
\nJava may soon go on a month-long holiday during the Islamic
\nfasting month of Ramadhan while their friends across the country
\ngo to school.<\/p>\n
The provincial office of the Ministry of Education and Culture
\nhas recently agreed to the holiday, as suggested by leaders of
\nMuhammadiyah, a major Moslem organization which runs thousands of
\nschools, so that its students can observe fasting better.<\/p>\n
Head of the education office Koesno told a gathering of
\nMuhammadiyah leaders in Kendal city on Sunday that the ministry
\ncould accommodate the suggestion, as long as the students still
\nobtain the required 240 days of learning material.<\/p>\n
Koesno was quoted by Antara news agency as saying that a
\nnumber of privately-owned educational institutions have also made
\nsimilar suggestion. \"I believe we can realize the school holiday
\nduring Ramadhan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah has also suggested that the male students of its
\njunior high schools be allowed to wear long pants rather than the
\nofficially-set school uniform of short pants. Islam requires its
\nmale believers to cover their bodies from the waist down to their
\nknees.<\/p>\n
\"This way, the students can easily say their prayers in their
\nschool uniform,\" one of the organization's leaders said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Council of Primary and Secondary
\nEducation Prof. Abu Suud welcome the government's decision and
\nsaid he hopes the Ramadhan-holiday policy will also be
\nimplemented throughout Indonesia soon.<\/p>\n
At present, all schools are open during Ramadhan, although
\nmany Moslem organizations have asked that they be closed for the
\nfasting month.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah in Central Java operates 830 elementary schools,
\n420 religious schools, 283 junior high schools, 151 senior high
\nschools, 18 schools of technology, as well a number of other
\nlearning institutes. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/islamic-schools-to-get-holidays-1447893297",
"image": ""
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