Effectiveness of policy on Muslim wear questioned
<p>Effectiveness of policy on Muslim wear questioned</p><p>Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta</p><p> What works for you might not work for others, right? That might
be the case with public schools in West Jakarta which -- on the
order of the mayor -- will try to follow Islamic schools in
requiring students to wear Islamic attire and to perform
religious rituals.</p><p>"It is likely that it (the requirement) will be ineffective
due to the characteristics of public schools," said Wardi Isman,
the principal of Islamic school SMU Al Azhar 1 in South Jakarta.</p><p>Wardi said the move could prove more problematic than
beneficial because not all students in public schools are Muslim.</p><p>"What's good for Islamic schools does not necessarily fit in
public schools, and vice versa," said Wardi.</p><p>At his school, all first and second-year female students are
required to wear a Muslim headdress, long-sleeved shirts and long
skirts. The policy was introduced two years ago.</p><p>Next year, third-year female students at the school will also
be required to adhere to this dress code. There is no special
dress code for male students because according to Koran, the
aurat (nakedness) of the man is only from the navel to the knees.</p><p>Starting next academic year, all public schools in West
Jakarta will require both boys and girls to wear Muslim attire
every Friday. Some school principals told The Jakarta Post boys
would be required to wear a baju koko (a long-sleeved, collarless
shirt) and peci (cap).</p><p>The policy was formulated according to the instructions of the
West Jakarta mayor, who has also ordered public schools to
require students to perform religious rituals.</p><p>The policy is meant to increase the faith and religious
knowledge of students, according to the mayor's instructions,
which were signed last year.</p><p>Many school principals have welcomed the policy in the hope
that it will help cut down on brawls, robberies and drug offenses
committed by students.</p><p>But whether making students wear Muslim clothes will have any
effect on their behavior is questionable.</p><p>Citra, who is in her second year at a junior high school in
Rawamangun, East Jakarta, said her school had long required
Muslim students to wear Islamic attire on Fridays.</p><p>"But it doesn't have any impact on my faith or attitude,"
Citra said, adding that what was important to her was what she
learned from the family.</p><p>Ria, whose daughter goes to an elementary school in West
Jakarta, also expressed doubt that the new policy would prove
effective.</p><p>"It's nonsense to think that clothes will change attitudes.
The most important thing is the education at school, as well as
at home and in society," she said.</p><p>Refa, a first-year student at SMU Al-Azhar 1, looked surprised
when he learned about the policy.</p><p>"Why should they (schools) require students to wear a baju
koko ... it's too hot to wear in Jakarta," he said.</p>
be the case with public schools in West Jakarta which -- on the
order of the mayor -- will try to follow Islamic schools in
requiring students to wear Islamic attire and to perform
religious rituals.</p><p>"It is likely that it (the requirement) will be ineffective
due to the characteristics of public schools," said Wardi Isman,
the principal of Islamic school SMU Al Azhar 1 in South Jakarta.</p><p>Wardi said the move could prove more problematic than
beneficial because not all students in public schools are Muslim.</p><p>"What's good for Islamic schools does not necessarily fit in
public schools, and vice versa," said Wardi.</p><p>At his school, all first and second-year female students are
required to wear a Muslim headdress, long-sleeved shirts and long
skirts. The policy was introduced two years ago.</p><p>Next year, third-year female students at the school will also
be required to adhere to this dress code. There is no special
dress code for male students because according to Koran, the
aurat (nakedness) of the man is only from the navel to the knees.</p><p>Starting next academic year, all public schools in West
Jakarta will require both boys and girls to wear Muslim attire
every Friday. Some school principals told The Jakarta Post boys
would be required to wear a baju koko (a long-sleeved, collarless
shirt) and peci (cap).</p><p>The policy was formulated according to the instructions of the
West Jakarta mayor, who has also ordered public schools to
require students to perform religious rituals.</p><p>The policy is meant to increase the faith and religious
knowledge of students, according to the mayor's instructions,
which were signed last year.</p><p>Many school principals have welcomed the policy in the hope
that it will help cut down on brawls, robberies and drug offenses
committed by students.</p><p>But whether making students wear Muslim clothes will have any
effect on their behavior is questionable.</p><p>Citra, who is in her second year at a junior high school in
Rawamangun, East Jakarta, said her school had long required
Muslim students to wear Islamic attire on Fridays.</p><p>"But it doesn't have any impact on my faith or attitude,"
Citra said, adding that what was important to her was what she
learned from the family.</p><p>Ria, whose daughter goes to an elementary school in West
Jakarta, also expressed doubt that the new policy would prove
effective.</p><p>"It's nonsense to think that clothes will change attitudes.
The most important thing is the education at school, as well as
at home and in society," she said.</p><p>Refa, a first-year student at SMU Al-Azhar 1, looked surprised
when he learned about the policy.</p><p>"Why should they (schools) require students to wear a baju
koko ... it's too hot to wear in Jakarta," he said.</p>