Restricted TV hours said to help students

Restricted TV hours said to help students

JAKARTA (JP): A gubernatorial decree prohibiting students from
watching television from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the week has
proven effective in raising final exam scores, an official says.

Markus Sugihardjo, head of the Yogyakarta education office,
said on Saturday that the Jam Belajar Masyarakat, or community
learning hours program, is a success because teachers, parents
and other community members have helped enforce it.

The average final exam math scores for elementary schools
students increased from 6.4 last year to 6.57, while natural
science grades improved from 7.1 to 7.29.

Though no data are yet available, Markus said he was sure that
junior and senior high school scores have also increased.

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Pakualam VIII implemented the program
last year after a three-year trial period in three villages in
the province.

Based on the decree, people have to turn off their televisions
for at least two hours a day, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The whole community is involved in the program. In some
villages, officers patrol houses to see if their televisions have
been switched off.

Wasis Siswanto, the principal of the local school that first
introduced the program in his village Karang Waru Lor, said that
during the trial the program has raised final exam scores by more
than 50 percent.

Previously, he said, only 20 percent of the students scored a
seven, on a scale of ten, in any subject. After the program, the
percentage increased to 75 percent.

"The program is not only intended to improve grades, but to
also help build discipline and character," Wasis told The Jakarta
Post.

Markus said the success of the program depends greatly on the
parents. "Not all parents can implement it. For instance, they
tell their children to turn off the television and study, but
they can't be there to see whether the children do so," he said.

Or, he said, it's the parents who can't bear to have the
television turned off because they want to watch.

Both Markus and Wasis suggested that other provinces begin
similar programs.

Wasis also suggested that the program be introduced
nationwide. "I wish this program could be launched by President
Soeharto, just like previous education programs," he said. (31)