"I would like to reiterate that no school is obliged to implement a five-day school system but any school that implements it may continue to do it so long as there is no complaint about it," Jokowi said.
Jember, E Java (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will soon produce a regulation for strengthening character education to replace the controversial regulation of the ministry of education on a five-day a week school system.

"We have discussed it with the minister of education and culture and it will be made known after it is finished," he said after distributing "Kartu Indonesia Pintar" school education subsidy card to junior high school students in Jember, East Java, on Sunday.

Jokowi said there is no obligation for a school to implement a five-day school or full day school system and so those that implement a six-day school system may continue to do it.

"I would like to reiterate that no school is obliged to implement a five-day school system but any school that implements it may continue to do it so long as there is no complaint about it," he said.

Education and culture minister Muhadjir Effendi said the presidential regulation for strengthening character education will soon be produced, which will state that a five-day school system is only an option or not compulsory.

"It will likely be issued next week. The regulation of the minister of education will be upgraded into a presidential regulation with some improvements covering suggestions from various parties," he said.

Muhadjir said that the five-day school system is only an option and so schools that implement a six-day school system may continue with it and those that have changed to a five-day school system may also continue with it so long as it will not disturb religious education activities.

"In Indonesia there are 9,000 schools that have been used as a model and almost all regions have a pilot project for the implementation of five-day school system," he said.

The minister said that the general public have so far misunderstood the idea of "full day school" as being in school for eight hours which is actually the working hours of school teachers.

Nahdlatul Ulama which is the biggest Islamic organization in the country has strongly opposed the implementation of the five day a week school system for fear it will disrupt religious educational activities of the students as the system will make students to be in school for a full day. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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