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)