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