Public services, schools take holiday on Monday

Public services, schools take holiday on Monday

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Complying with a government policy to shift a number of national
holidays in order to give longer weekends, the central bank, the
Jakarta Stock Exchange, public services and most schools in the
city will take the Islamic New Year holiday on Monday, March 3.

The central bank and the stock exchange announced the decision
earlier this week, while the city administration gave out letters
to all its offices ordering them to take holidays on Monday
instead of Tuesday, which is the official holiday.

As a consequence, all services administered by the city
administration will be closed Monday and open Tuesday.

Public services for driving licenses and vehicle taxes will
also be closed on Monday, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.
Prasetyo said.

All state schools in Jakarta -- from elementary to senior high
school -- as well as the private Tarakanita and Al Azhar schools
are also taking Monday off.

Petrus Joko Purwanto, the head of the senior high school
division of the Tarakanita Foundation, said it had reluctantly
agreed to the policy.

"I think it's better for the government not to shift religious
holidays," he said. "For example, if Dec. 25 falls on Tuesday, I
think it will be awkward to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 24."

However, all Muhammadiyah private schools in Jakarta will open
their classes on Monday and take holiday on Tuesday.

"But we let each of the Muhammadiyah schools decide whether to
take holidays on both Monday and Tuesday, or on Tuesday only, as
long as it doesn't reduce the total annual hours of study," said
Warso Pitoyo, a member of Muhammadiyah's education council.

"We happen to celebrate Muhammadiyah anniversary on Monday, so
each school will hold a ceremony before classes start," he added.

Regarding the public holiday, The Indonesia in Miniature Park
(TMII), which is usually closed on Mondays, will be opened on
Monday next week.

Since the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, the government has shifted
several holidays in order to boost domestic tourism to offset the
plunging number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia.

However, its ruling particularly targets civil servants, while
private companies are merely encouraged.

Such differences on holidays may give families trouble in
planning their holiday activities. For example, civil servants
who have children studying at schools that do not take the
holiday on Monday, will not be able to arrange a family holiday.