'Close unregistered technical schools'

'Close unregistered technical schools'

JAKARTA (JP): The director general of basic and middle
education, Zaenal Arifin Achmady, wants unregistered privately
owned technical high schools closed down.

Achmady said there were many technical high schools which
operate in any old way. "They illegally tell their students to
take final examinations at registered schools," he was quoted by
Kompas as saying Saturday.

He called on the Education and Culture Office to take proper
steps against such schools. "Just close them. And report to the
police if they are stubborn."

The head of the vocational training department at the
Education and Culture Office, Kasito, acknowledged in a separate
interview that several technical high schools did not have
permits to operate. But he was reluctant to reveal the number and
names of the schools. "We are still working on this," he said,
promising to announce the details Wednesday.

Rumor has it that students of most unregistered technical high
schools are notorious for brawling.

According to the Education and Culture Office, brawls in the
city mostly involve students of 50 senior high schools, 40 of
which are privately owned technical high schools.

Jakarta has 564 state and private senior high schools.

The schools whose students become involved in brawls are
inferior as they do not have laboratories and the teachers
usually lack discipline, Kasito said.

Neither Kasito or Achmady said why the government has let such
schools operate.

According to Achmady, the inferior schools need help to
improve. "The Education and Culture Office should approach the
foundations which manage the schools and tell them to set aside
money to improve the schools' performances," Achmady said.

Achmady said the government should not issue any permits for
new private technical high schools, unless the foundations are
willing to provide laboratories and workshops.

There are currently 107 private technical high schools in
Jakarta and only 37 of them meet the minimum standard set by the
government, Achmady said. "Only eight technical high schools are
good in Jakarta. While 81 lack facilities, such as labs and
workshops."

The head of City Education and Culture Office, Kusnan
Ismukanto, once suggested that inferior technical high schools
merge. (sur)