Public services, schools take holiday on Monday<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Complying with a government policy to shift a number of national
\nholidays in order to give longer weekends, the central bank, the
\nJakarta Stock Exchange, public services and most schools in the
\ncity will take the Islamic New Year holiday on Monday, March 3.<\/p>\n
The central bank and the stock exchange announced the decision
\nearlier this week, while the city administration gave out letters
\nto all its offices ordering them to take holidays on Monday
\ninstead of Tuesday, which is the official holiday.<\/p>\n
As a consequence, all services administered by the city
\nadministration will be closed Monday and open Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Public services for driving licenses and vehicle taxes will
\nalso be closed on Monday, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.
\nPrasetyo said.<\/p>\n
All state schools in Jakarta -- from elementary to senior high
\nschool -- as well as the private Tarakanita and Al Azhar schools
\nare also taking Monday off.<\/p>\n
Petrus Joko Purwanto, the head of the senior high school
\ndivision of the Tarakanita Foundation, said it had reluctantly
\nagreed to the policy.<\/p>\n
"I think it's better for the government not to shift religious
\nholidays," he said. "For example, if Dec. 25 falls on Tuesday, I
\nthink it will be awkward to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 24."<\/p>\n
However, all Muhammadiyah private schools in Jakarta will open
\ntheir classes on Monday and take holiday on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"But we let each of the Muhammadiyah schools decide whether to
\ntake holidays on both Monday and Tuesday, or on Tuesday only, as
\nlong as it doesn't reduce the total annual hours of study," said
\nWarso Pitoyo, a member of Muhammadiyah's education council.<\/p>\n
"We happen to celebrate Muhammadiyah anniversary on Monday, so
\neach school will hold a ceremony before classes start," he added.<\/p>\n
Regarding the public holiday, The Indonesia in Miniature Park
\n(TMII), which is usually closed on Mondays, will be opened on
\nMonday next week.<\/p>\n
Since the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, the government has shifted
\nseveral holidays in order to boost domestic tourism to offset the
\nplunging number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However, its ruling particularly targets civil servants, while
\nprivate companies are merely encouraged.<\/p>\n
Such differences on holidays may give families trouble in
\nplanning their holiday activities. For example, civil servants
\nwho have children studying at schools that do not take the
\nholiday on Monday, will not be able to arrange a family holiday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-services-schools-take-holiday-on-monday-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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