Several high schools declare Monday a holiday

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)