“Schools are the agents of social change. They certainly play a decisive role in the continuity of Betawi culture if it is taught to children at school,” he said in Jakarta on Monday.
Khoirudin indicated his readiness to engage with the Jakarta Education Office to discuss further integrating Betawi culture into the school curriculum.
“I have requested the governor’s permission to include Betawi cultural lessons in formal school education. Naturally, the textbooks must be sourced from practitioners of Betawi culture,” he remarked.
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Khoirudin noted that the Jakarta DPRD is currently reviewing around 30 regional regulation drafts (Perda), although the regulation for the Advancement of Betawi Culture is not yet among them.
Nevertheless, he is prepared to prioritize the draft regulation on the Advancement of Betawi Culture.
“We are waiting for the draft to be submitted to the executive branch and then included in the Legislative Deliberation Body’s (Bamus') agenda for a plenary meeting. Khoirudin explained that the Regional Regulation Formation Body (Bapemperda) will discuss it and extend invitations to all cultural practitioners.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) stated that preserving and developing Betawi culture is a strategic step toward strengthening Jakarta’s character and its international appeal.
This initiative is a vital part of Jakarta's cultural development, as the city serves as a meeting point for diverse cultures across the archipelago.
To achieve this, the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) will incorporate a Jakarta Cultural Advancement Roadmap as a strategic guide.
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Translator: Lia, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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