Ministry issues new academic holiday calender

Ministry issues new academic holiday calender

JAKARTA (JP): To the chagrin of observers, the Ministry of
National Education has issued an academic holiday calender for
elementary and high school which includes a 38-day break between
December 2000 and January 2001.

The ministry has decided to declare an extensive holiday in
conjunction with the Ramadhan fasting month, Christmas, Idul
Fitri and the New Year.

Official academic activities would be suspended as of Dec. 1,
2000, and would not resume till Jan. 8, 2001.

"We are setting up a (extracurricular) program such as in
Islamic boarding schools for students to fill their holidays. As
for other students, we're still thinking of a scheme," Director
General of Primary and Secondary Education Indra Djati Sidi told
The Jakarta Post by telephone on Friday.

But several observers have decried the decision, describing it
as a political concession to appease certain religiously
affiliated parties.

Noted sociologist Paulus Wirutomo from the University of
Indonesia said the ministry was sacrificing education for
political interest.

"It seems that the minister as well as the House of
Representatives (DPR) bowed to political pressure by religious
groups that led to the political decision," he said.

"Logically, Ramadhan fasting month as well as other religious
services must become part of our routine activities. We are
supposed to push our quality of education and the decision makers
must realize that," Paulus added.

Giving students such a long vacation will psychologically
disrupt their cognitive acumen and economically burden parents
who now have to fork out more money to occupy their children's
daily activities during the holiday, he explained.

Holidays are meaningful if we earn them for the right reasons,
he said. "And in that sense religion must not be used for
political interests or to become an excuse for implementing a
policy that is very unsupportive of education," he said.

"I'm afraid that the minister only did this to 'politically'
acquiesce to certain parties. I disagree with this approach and I
believe many are on my side," he said.

The ministry should have spread the holidays proportionally,
he said. "It can be done by cutting a few hours of the daily
lessons but not to put the students on vacation for the entire
fasting month."

Education expert Manasse Malo of the University of Indonesia
shared Paulus' view, arguing that students should be given a
holiday only during the first week of Ramadhan.

"Our education is lagging far behind. Our country is probably
the one with the most amount of holidays. This is very
ineffective and strongly disruptive to the students' rhythm of
learning. I just hope that the ministry is wise enough to change
the policy," the professor said.

"The policy makers on education must not use education as a
political object that can be played around with and sacrifice
benefit of the students in the process," Manasse said.

In a bid to cope with the long "leisure" time, informal
education or extracurricular activities must be prepared, Manasse
said.

The calender from October to March 2001 is as follows:
* Oct. 20 handing out report cards.
* Oct. 21 to Oct. 28 term holidays
* Oct. 30 the beginning of the next quarter
* Dec. 1 to Dec. 26 Ramadhan fasting month and Christmas holiday
* Dec. 27 to Dec. 28 Idul Fitri celebration holiday
* Dec. 29 to Jan. 6, 2001 Idul Fitri and New Year holidays
* March 5, 2001 Idul Adha public holiday
* March 10 report cards handed out
* March 11 to March 17 term holidays
* March 19 the beginning of next quarter
* March 26 Islamic New Year public holiday
* April 13 Good Friday public holiday
* May 7 Ascension day public holiday
* May 24 Waisak public holiday
* June 4 Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad public holiday
* June 30 Final report cards handed out(edt)