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.