Religious instruction relevant: Minister

JAKARTA (JP): Religion class in schools remains relevant to the life of today's students due to their need to maintain moral values, Minister of Education and Culture, Juwono Sudarsono says.

"At least religion class is one of the compulsory classes for students to graduate in, apart from the Indonesian language," Juwono told reporters after signing a joint agreement with Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fajar on Friday.

Juwono said that religion class was not designed to ensure that schools could breed pious students, citing the pivotal role played by parents in teaching their children about morality.

"Such a way of thinking works when we have to explain that economics does not guarantee the proper economic management of the country," Juwono said.

The joint agreement, which replaces the old accord signed in 1985, deals with the administrative status of religion class teachers. Under the newly signed agreement, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is responsible for the human resources development of the teachers, while the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the placement of teachers.

Religion class is a mandatory subject for students ranging from elementary school to university.

Both Juwono and Malik admitted that education and religious teaching does not automatically stop student brawls or curb the spread of drug abuse among Indonesian youths.

They agreed that to improve the quality of religion classes, the content of the teaching and the way it is presented would need to be modified to help students understand and implement it in their everyday lives.

Both ministries are discussing the content of the subject and hope to finish it in two or three years.

"We cannot do it in a hurry as our terms end next week. Hopefully the next government can continue the task," Juwono said.(04)