National education system

National education system

From Suara Karya

There is much debate taking place about the bill on national
education, particularly regarding subarticle 1(a) of article 12
(in the version from the House of Representatives) and subarticle
1(a) of article 13 (in the government version), which are about
the right of students to obtain religious instruction from a
teacher of the same religion.

In our opinion, these particular subarticles are in line with
subarticle 1 of article 31 of the 1945 Constitution, and is in
accordance with the principle of human rights and the spirit of
pluralism.

Subarticle 1(a) of article 12 (the House version) and
subarticle 1(a) of article 13 (the government version) of the
bill apply to all educational institutions, without exception. It
is clear to everybody that everyone has the right to receive
religious instruction from a person of the same faith. This is
especially necessary in the case of students between the ages of
6 and 18, as otherwise they could be influenced by the values and
norms of other religions.

It is regrettable that the government and the House have
scrapped an article on criminal sanctions for those who violate
these particular subarticles. A law will not be effective unless
it can punish those who violate it.

To sum up, if this sensitive matter of religious instruction
is allowed to drag on, seeds of conflicts counterproductive to
the development of this country will emerge.

In view of the above, we, the Forum for the Care for National
Education (FPPN), call on the government and the House to:

(a). include subarticle 1(a) of article 12 (the House version)
or subarticle 1(a) of article 13 (the government version) in the
bill on national education;

(b). include in the bill an article stipulating the penalties
for those who violate the subarticle in (a);

(c). ratify this bill as soon as possible.

FAHMY ALAYDRUS
Chairman of FPPN
Nurul Fikri Islamic
Boarding School
Jakarta