Students join the Navy for four days
Students join the Navy for four days
JAKARTA (JP): Under the escort of their teachers, a group of
216 students from 33 high schools in Jakarta and several other
provinces began a four-day excursion on a Navy warship on Friday
evening.
According to Arief Rachman, principal of Lab School, which
organized the tour, the Arun warship will sail the students
through the popular Seribu Islands north of Jakarta Bay and
return to Tanjung Priok port on Monday.
"It's an alternative activity for students to spend their
school holiday," Arief, also a noted Muslim preacher, said in the
opening ceremony of the program called Bina Taqwa Pelajar
Indonesia at the port hours before departure.
During the trip, the crew will instruct the students on the
workings of the ships equipment such as radar, radio, weapons and
engines.
On a stop-over at the islands, the youths will do some marine
studies and assist local residents with their health facilities.
According to Arief, the idea to hold the program came five
years ago when the Lab School had its annual Islamic teaching
course during the school holidays.
In a bid to accommodate students from other religions, the
school finally decided to hold a program during the holiday which
could be participated in by students of any religion.
"We want to intensify the religious belief and tolerance among
the students, and advise them about the harm of drugs and
narcotics, as well as student brawls," said Arief.
The students come from 14 high schools in Jakarta, 11 in West
Java, one from Jombang (East Java), three from Palembang (South
Sumatra), one from Pekan Baru of Riau, one from Padang (West
Sumatra), one from Medan (North Sumatra) and one from Samarinda
(East Kalimantan). Since the number of participants is limited,
students are selected by each of the participating schools.
The schedule also includes lessons and assignments given by
leaders of each religion, and some classes from experts, Arief
said.
Students are also expected to learn from the Navy crew about
discipline, leadership and responsibility among friends, he
added.
All the efforts, he added, will hopefully shape the students'
mentality and sensitivity to respond properly among their
communities in the future.
"It will be a memorable experience for them," Arief said.
The commander of the warship, Lt. Col. Hari Bowo, said:
"Security monitoring in a warship and international communication
with other ships will be interesting for the students."
The 140-meter-vessel with 100 crew is a support ship to supply
fuel, equipment and supplies.
Some female students used their first minutes onboard to
investigate along the alleyway.
"I never know that the bedrooms in a warship could be this
neat," commented one of them.
The outing, requiring payment of Rp 150,000 per student,
received enthusiastic responses from the participants.
"I'm bored with going to malls or hanging out with my friends
during school holidays, so I decided to join this excursion,"
said Elizabeth Safetri, a student from a high school in
Samarinda.
Other students were interested in the unusual choice of place
for recreation.
"Diving and marine exploration seem challenging to me, since I
like the outdoor activities club in school," said Emanuel Aryo W.
student of Saint Angela High School in Bandung.
The consideration for all religions within one event is
another attractive point for students and parents, who want to
share peace and friendship with other participants.
"After all the hard effort at school, this program is a good
reward for my daughter," said one parent.
Teachers taking part in the program suggested the organizers
from the Lab School to increase the number of participants as
there were many more students wanting to take part in the rare
trip on a warship. (07)