Several high schools declare Monday a holiday

JAKARTA (JP): In anticipation of possible unrest over the planned mobilization of both pro- and anti-President Abdurrahman Wahid supporters, at least 13 state high schools in Central Jakarta will halt their activities on Monday.

The commitment was made in a meeting of 13 of Central Jakarta's state high school principals on Saturday.

"We don't want to take any risks. Many of our students and teachers commute from areas all over the capital and they will pass through the potentially riot-prone areas," said Mr. Lam, principal of SMU 35 high school in Karet, Central Jakarta.

He was responding to an announcement from the Jakarta office of the education ministry on Friday, that schools across the capital were free to decide whether to suspend classes, in consideration of security issues, on Monday.

Other state high schools which will halt their activities on Monday are SMU 1 on Jl. Budi Utomo, SMU 4 on Jl. Batu, SMU 5 in Sumur Batu, SMU 7 in Gambir, SMU 10, SMU 20, SMU 24 on Jl. Lapangan Tembak, SMU 25, SMU 27, SMU 30 in Rawasari, and SMU 68 and SMU 77 in Salemba.

According to official data, there are a total of 5,331 schools in the city, comprising 166 state high schools, 367 private high schools, 480 state vocational high schools, 283 state junior high schools, 780 private junior high schools, 2,475 state elementary schools and 780 private elementary schools.

The Central Jakarta mayoralty is the home to many important state government offices and strategic places, including the Presidential Palace and the Vice Presidential Palace, the Supreme Court, the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) building and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Governor Sutiyoso expressed regret over the agreement between the principals on Sunday, saying all school activities should continue on Monday because the security authorities have arranged precaution measures in case of disturbance.

Deputy principal of SMU 68, Pernon Akbar, said that his school has frequently been situated in unpredictable conditions due to student brawls and demonstrations.

"We have to halt school activities because student protests have frequently been held on Jl. Salemba, Jl. Diponegoro and Jl. Matraman, such as the Sept. 28, 2000 protest, which injured 30 people and involved the burning of military vehicles," he said.

The decision to have a day off on Monday was followed by six state elementary schools in Salemba.

"We cannot send our students home if rallies occurred on Monday, because we cannot monitor and help them when they're out of school. So we'd rather take a day off," said Pipit Suryati, a principal of SDN Kenari 07 in Salemba.

However, several schools which are located close to riot-prone areas will proceed with classes as usual on Monday.

"Until now, no rallies have affected our school activities, and I believe that our students will not get involved in any rallies or brawls," said Khusen, principal of STM 1 state vocational high school in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta.

Several privates schools located quite far from the city center, such as the Al Azhar Foundation school complex in Blok M and the Jakarta International School in Terogong, both in South Jakarta, will proceed with classes on Monday.

"We will add to the number of security officials guarding our school complex and cooperate with local police," said a security officer of the Jakarta International School.

Other private schools, such as SMU Lab Schools in Rawamangun and the Marsudirini school complex in Matraman, both located in East Jakarta, will also continue their activities on Monday.

Yet, SMK 24 state vocational high school in Bambu Apus, East Jakarta, which is situated far from the riot-prone areas, will cease its activities on Monday.

"In anticipation of the possibility that our students will skip classes, we've decided to quit school activities on Monday," a teacher said.

The decision to halt school activities on Monday, however, received mixed reactions from students.

"I've heard about rumors of a huge rally on Monday, but I guess it's just like other student brawls, which often occur in my neighborhood," said Retno, an elementary school student in Sunter Jaya, North Jakarta.

Meanwhile, some students are just happy about the day off because they have an extended weekend to play with friends.

"It will be fun," said Iman, a junior high school student in the Cempaka Putih area, Central Jakarta. (07)