Police assigned to schools

JAKARTA (JP): Police officers will soon be assigned to monitor activities at every high school in South Jakarta in an effort to prevent students from brawling.

"If it is agreed, we will place one or two officers at the schools to supervise," South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sisno Adhi informed principals at a special meeting on curbing student brawls yesterday.

Fifty South Jakarta high school principals attended the meeting.

Sisno said the officers will teach students how to secure and maintain their school environment. "Its not just to prevent student brawls," he added.

He suggested that principals and teachers regularly check to see if their students are bringing weapons or drugs to school.

One high school principal said that he had done what the police suggested, but it did not work.

"We keep our eyes on our students until they get aboard buses. But we don't have enough buses for all of the students," he said.

Another high school principal suggested that ethics and other moral teachings be added to the lessons taught at the schools.

"I have ordered our teachers to teach morality for five minutes each time they start a class," he said.

Sisno said yesterday that the South Jakarta police have apprehended 150 students in a two-day operation.

The police have seized three machetes, two swords and 15 belts which have cogwheels in the place of buckles.

"We also apprehended three hoodlums wearing high school uniforms," he said.

The students were released after they signed statements saying they would no longer involve themselves in brawls.(04)