Five-Day School Week to be Presidential Regulation
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Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
Parents accompany their children who are newly enrolled at state elementary school SD Negeri Pondok Betung 02, Pondok Aren, South Tangerang>, Banten, Saturday (17/6). The 2017-2018 school year will start on July 17, 2017.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The implementation of the five-day school week policy, which was set to take effect for the 2017/2018 school year, has not run smoothly. The government must prepare a presidential regulation as a legal umbrella for the policy.
The announcement was made by Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin on Monday (19/6) at the presidential office, after meeting President Joko Widodo at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta. Also present at the meeting was Culture and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy.
“We discussed the ministerial regulation (Culture and Education Ministerial Regulation No. 23/2017 on School Days) related to the five-day school week, which has sparked reactions from the public and mass organizations. The President has responded to the aspirations developing among the people and understands what is wanted by the mass organizations and the Muslim people,” Ma’ruf told reporters.
Previously, the Culture and Education Minister had announced that the issuance of the ministerial regulation would be an early step in the implementation of the five-day school week policy. Not only this, but the policy must also complement the change in teachers’ working hours, which is regulated in Government Regulation No. 19/2017 on Teachers. In this regulation, the workload of teachers will be altered akin to that of civil servants at 37.5 hours a week, or 40 hours a week including leave days. The workload of teachers is no longer fixed at 24 hours of classroom instruction.
This policy is part of the Character Building Education (PPK) program at all school levels. Schools that currently run 5-6 hours a day are to be increased to 8 hours a day; school days of 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. will be changed to end at 3:00 p.m.
However, some groups say that not every region is ready to implement the policy. It is also thought to overlap the activities of madrasah diniyah (traditional Islamic classes) from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Regulation upgraded
According to Ma’ruf, who is also the Rais Aam (supreme leader) of Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), the relevant regulation will be upgraded from a ministerial to a presidential regulation. The policy establishment will also include related ministries such as the Religious Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry,as well as mass organizations like Muhammadiyah and NU. “This regulation will also strengthen the position of madrasah diniyah. Not only will they be protected, but it will also build (the students’) character,” Ma’ruf said.
Muhadjir, who was contacted on Monday evening, stressed that there was no decision to “delay” the policy. “What is correct is that the legal umbrella is being upgraded from a ministerial regulation to a presidential regulation,” he said.
When asked whether there was enough time to prepare the presidential regulation, Muhadjir responded, “We will step on the gas.”
At the moment, Muhadjir said, the Culture and Education Ministry was working on its implementation guidelines and instructions. Implementation arrangements will also be coordinated with the Religious Affairs Ministry.
A number of schools in regions have said that they are not ready for the policy. They cite inadequate facilities and teaching staff at their schools, as well as a lack of information about the policy.
