Private schools shorten terms due to unrest fear

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)