Private schools shorten terms due to unrest fear

JAKARTA (JP): Several private schools in the city have decided to shorten their academic year and hold examinations ahead of schedule, to avoid disruption caused by possible unrest during the upcoming general election.

The British International School on Jl. Jombang Raya in the Bintaro Jaya housing complex, for example, had modified its academic term so that it would adjourn on May 21 instead of July 9.

A school official, who asked for anonymity, said that in order to meet the deadline, classes are scheduled for Saturdays, (usually rostered as a day off) and several public holidays, including the Easter holiday break (April 3 to April 18).

"From May 22 to Sept. 1, the children's attendance will not be required. The decision was made by the school's Board of Governors and was also approved by the principal," said the source.

The decision, however, has sparked complaints from the students' parents. "The school is emphatic that the decision was made for the safety of the children," she said.

"There are some protesting parents, but we made this decision for their own good. We want to avoid possible incidents during the campaign weeks and the general election, so we decided that school activities would end before the election," she added.

She recalled that massive rioting last May had forced some 300 children to sleep over at the school.

The Pelita Harapan schools have also outlined a similar schedule for identical reasons.

"It's been specified that by the end of May, classes at the schools and university here will temporarily cease," a source, who also asked not to be named, said.

The Pelita Harapan schools -- which cover kindergarten, junior and senior high schools as well as a university -- are known as the most expensive educational providers in the country.

According to Bul Penyami, deputy rector for student affairs at Pelita Harapan University, the decision to conduct school activities at full speed was so that curriculum targets could be reached with all students being well prepared for the forthcoming examinations.

"Besides, we also have to prepare ourselves should something happen before or during the (June) election," said Bul.

"But we'll strictly adhere to any instructions from the local education office regarding the state final examination for students," he said.

These two institutions are not the only privately run schools in the capital to adopt a condensed schedule.

When asked to comment on the phenomenon, head of Jakarta's Ministry of Education and Culture, Alwi Nurdin said that his office has no problem with any school that adopted a shortened academic term and hastened the date of their school-drafted final examination, as long as students were well prepared.

"They're free to do that," Alwi said.

But he reminded all educational institutions that elementary and high school students have to take the state final examination, which would be held separately from May 3 to May 29.

"So far, there has been no changes from the ministry regarding the schedule," he said.

As reported earlier, Indonesia will hold its general election in June. Many worry that Jakarta could become a hot spot for street campaigners several months prior to the poll.

The government is yet to issue a statement in regard to whether street campaigns will be allowed during the election. (ivy/bsr/ind)