Ministry under fire over decree on visit to Sea World
Ministry under fire over decree on visit to Sea World
JAKARTA (JP): Just weeks after the controversy over uniforming
students' shoes, the Ministry of Education and Culture has come
under fire again over reports it had issued a letter requiring
high school students to visit Sea World.
Chairman of the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, Amien Rais,
immediately called on the ministry to stop the commercialization
of education.
"Stop the commercialization of education, a practice which is
completely unethical," he said as quoted by Antara from
Yogyakarta yesterday.
Separately, Djauzak Ahmad, a respected observer on education,
said although the intent was good, the means it employed were not
commendable.
"Going on a study trip or a student picnic should not be
forced, let alone commercialized," he remarked.
The latest controversy erupted when it was revealed that a
state-run high school SMUN 34 obliged its first-year students to
take part in a visit to Sea World in Ancol, North Jakarta, based
on a supposed letter of recommendation from the Jakarta Education
and Culture office No. 1506/I01.G/M/1996 dated Aug. 20, 1996.
Students reportedly had to pay Rp 37,500 (US$12.70) for the
visit, much higher than the usual Rp 11,000 entrance fee.
The latest controversy comes on the heels of a barrage of
public outrage following efforts to uniform elementary school
children's shoes. The company which was to make the shoes also
reportedly received a letter of recommendation from the ministry
of education and culture.
President Soeharto expressed his disapproval of the plan,
before the recommendation letter was revoked.
Both Amien and Djauzak warned that the latest controversy
could provoke further ire among parents and seriously damage the
education system's image.
But as reported by Antara, foul play may be behind the latest
issue as officials here suggest the letter of recommendation may
be fake.
Spokesman for Jakarta's Education and Culture Office, Hadis
Hadianegara, said an investigation is currently underway.
"I doubt whether there is any such requirement for students to
visit Sea World, especially at such an expensive price," he said,
adding that usually only museums and archeological institutions
were made mandatory visits. (09)