School holidays during Ramadhan

School holidays during Ramadhan

From Pikiran Rakyat

During the 1994-1995 academic school year calender, the Ministry of Education and Culture has scheduled mid-term exams for Feb. 1-7, 1995. It should be noted that during this period Moslems will be involved in many religious activities related to the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

During the first days of Ramadhan children are usually engaged in activities either in the mosques or Islamic religious schools. These activities are aimed at enhancing the understanding of religion. We all know that religious education at schools is not sufficient.

Bearing this mind, I ask the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Religious Affairs to review the scholastic calendar during the month of Ramadhan. I also want to make the following suggestions.

1. Schools should be closed during the first few days of Ramadhan and testing can be conducted before or after Ramadhan.

2. During Ramadhan, schools should be opened for 10-12 days only.

3. The holiday period after Idul Fitri should be shortened to five or six days, instead of 16 days as stated in the calendar. If the holiday time is too long, children tend to do improper things over which parents have little control.

MAMAN KARDIMAN

Bandung, West Java