Islamic schools to get holidays

Islamic schools to get holidays

JAKARTA (JP): Students of the Muhammadiyah schools in Central
Java may soon go on a month-long holiday during the Islamic
fasting month of Ramadhan while their friends across the country
go to school.

The provincial office of the Ministry of Education and Culture
has recently agreed to the holiday, as suggested by leaders of
Muhammadiyah, a major Moslem organization which runs thousands of
schools, so that its students can observe fasting better.

Head of the education office Koesno told a gathering of
Muhammadiyah leaders in Kendal city on Sunday that the ministry
could accommodate the suggestion, as long as the students still
obtain the required 240 days of learning material.

Koesno was quoted by Antara news agency as saying that a
number of privately-owned educational institutions have also made
similar suggestion. "I believe we can realize the school holiday
during Ramadhan," he said.

Muhammadiyah has also suggested that the male students of its
junior high schools be allowed to wear long pants rather than the
officially-set school uniform of short pants. Islam requires its
male believers to cover their bodies from the waist down to their
knees.

"This way, the students can easily say their prayers in their
school uniform," one of the organization's leaders said.

Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Council of Primary and Secondary
Education Prof. Abu Suud welcome the government's decision and
said he hopes the Ramadhan-holiday policy will also be
implemented throughout Indonesia soon.

At present, all schools are open during Ramadhan, although
many Moslem organizations have asked that they be closed for the
fasting month.

Muhammadiyah in Central Java operates 830 elementary schools,
420 religious schools, 283 junior high schools, 151 senior high
schools, 18 schools of technology, as well a number of other
learning institutes. (swe)