Telivision stations criticized for lack of children's shows

JAKARTA (JP): The country's six television stations are guilty of "child neglect", educators said citing the shortage of programs for young people.

B. Guntarto of the Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation said yesterday he could not recall any television movie produced for children between the ages of seven and 12. "There aren't any television programs that can be classified as quality children's programming," he said.

"They (television stations) don't pay real attention to children.... Business motivation still dominates their selection of the programs," said Guntarto, the foundation's executive manager for Child Information and Policy Studies.

Most stations air adult programs in the morning -- the time when most children watch television. Even programs such as cartoons, which are broadcast for children, are not of good quality. "Some of the cartoons, such as Power Ranger, use violence to attract children, who unfortunately like it," Guntarto said.

He commended the movie Aku Cinta Indonesia (I love Indonesia), aired in 1986 by the state-owned television station TVRI, for its wholesomeness and said that more movies should follow its example.

The film, written by Arswendo Atmowiloto, is educational and teaches children to be aware of their social environment, Guntarto said. Simple characters and plot make the movie entertaining.

Guntarto said parents should play a bigger role in helping children learn from what they watch. Parents should watch programs with their children and clarify how the programs compare with reality. They need to explain to their children that there are no flying heroes and that special effects are used to create impressions on screen.

"The guidance will stem misunderstanding and encourage the children to be more critical of whatever they watch," Guntarto said.

His opinion was seconded by Mata Sandyah, who is better known as educator Bu (Mother) Kasur.

"Many television stations air foreign programs and it is difficult to prevent children from watching them," Bu Kasur said yesterday.

Today's children are more familiar with characters such as Power Ranger heroes or Andy Lau, a noted Mandarin movie star, than with any Indonesian actors, she lamented.

"There's a lack of Indonesian-made films, both on television and in cinemas, for children here," Bu Kasur said.

She suggested that filmmakers try harder to produce attractive films. "Children today are clever and know what they like or don't like."

Bu Kasur recently completed the remake of a 1961 children movie entitled Amrin Membolos (Amir Plays Truant).

The new version tells the story of a big city boy, Amrin, who works hard to win in an in-line skating competition. The movie depicts how Amrin outsmarts criminals and finally wins.

Private television station SCTV spokesperson Yuli Ismartono denies that her station neglects children.

"We have programs for children... it means we care," Yuli said, adding that SCTV provides two hours of children programming every day and more on weekends.

It is impossible to give children more attention, she said, because the station has other targeted viewers.

However, Yuli said she understood why the educators complained about shortage of children's programs. "We can't avoid the situation, but we're open to suggestions from the public."

According to 1994 Central Bureau of Statistics data, there are 27.1 million children between the ages of seven and 12. (ste)