Telivision stations criticized for lack of children's shows

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)