Ministry to launch holiday programs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Long school holidays can be a headache for
\nparents, particularly for those with not much money to spare.
\nThat is why the Ministry of Education and Culture's holiday
\nprograms at its city office are big help.<\/p>\n
Registration for the upcoming semester holiday programs at the
\noffice is expected to attract 50,000 senior high school students.<\/p>\n
Job training, one of the programs offered, has been the most
\nattractive program so far, the office spokesperson, Hadis
\nHadianegara, said.<\/p>\n
McDonalds Indonesia, the Jakarta Fire Department, the City
\nPublic Order Office and the Jakarta Tourism Office are a few
\ninstitutions which have shown interest in the job training
\nprogram, he said.<\/p>\n
After the city office acquires participation of public and
\nprivate offices and businesses, registration for students will
\nbegin June 16 for the program which runs from June 21 to July 21,
\nduring the semester holiday period.<\/p>\n
"McDonalds has requested 100 students," Hadis said. "It has
\nparticipated in the program since at least 1994."<\/p>\n
The City Fire Department has said it could take in at least
\n100 more and the Public Order Office said it wanted 500 students.<\/p>\n
"They (the Public Order Office) wanted some help in cleaning
\nup the remains of campaign contestants," Hadis said.<\/p>\n
Registered students are then deployed to various offices.
\nPocket money, transport allowances and lunch money differ among
\noffices. "In the last semester holiday, students at one office
\nwere very satisfied to get Rp 20,000 a day," he said.<\/p>\n
During the last semester holiday, the Jakarta Tourism Office
\ndeployed 1,200 students to various hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n
The holiday programs are offered each semester holiday and
\nwere initiated in 1989. Apart from job training, the programs
\noffer visits to museums, study tours, and various competitions.<\/p>\n
The programs began as a response to complaints from parents,
\nparticularly those of relatively low-income families, that the
\nholidays were a burden for them.<\/p>\n
Children would ask for more money and mothers felt they had to
\nprovide more food at home.<\/p>\n
Hadis said that holiday programs were aimed at easing parents'
\nburdens, preventing brawls, enhancing students' knowledge and
\nskills, and familiarizing others with the business world.<\/p>\n
Offices can also recruit potential employees through the
\nprogram, he added.<\/p>\n
He also said the central bank, Bank Indonesia, has said it
\nwould sponsor a stamp design competition and a writing contest on
\nsaving.<\/p>\n
"We ask that more private and public offices and businesses
\ntake in students for these programs," Hadis said.<\/p>\n
Suharso, head of the City Fire Department, said yesterday that
\nthere were usually more students interested than his office could
\ntake in.<\/p>\n
"The fire drills might be more challenging and exciting to
\nyoungsters than office work," he said.<\/p>\n
Basic knowledge of fire management could benefit students in
\ntheir homes, he said.<\/p>\n
Hadis said students also enjoyed supermarket jobs, and even
\nworking at cemetery offices.<\/p>\n
"But students of elite schools rarely join our programs, even
\nthough we're open to the general public," he said.<\/p>\n
Study tours are the most expensive program. During the
\nFebruary semester holiday, a limited group of 120 students went
\nto West Sumatra, he said. (anr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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