Mendikdasmen: Keputusan Libur Ramadan Dibahas Lintas Kementerian

JAKARTA - Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti conveyed the decision regarding school holidays during Ramadan which will soon be discussed by the Ministry of Education and Culture together with the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri).

"The decision is how to wait after we have a joint meeting with the Ministry of Religion and the Ministry of Home Affairs which is coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture," said Mu'ti as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, January 13.

He said the discussions carried out by across ministries, especially the Ministry of Religion, were important so that there would be no differences in school holidays during Ramadan between schools and madrasas.

The decision will consider the aspirations of the community. Based on his monitoring, Mu'ti said there were a number of proposals from the public regarding school holidays during Ramadan.

First, he said, there are people who propose full school holidays during Ramadan. Then, children's activities during holidays will be filled with religious activities held in the community.

"Secondly, it's paro (half-half). It means, there are parts. Usually, if it applies now, the beginning of Ramadan is a holiday, so for example three days or two days before Ramadan until for example four days or five days of Ramadan, the first day is off. Then, after that it enters as usual. Then usually before Eid al-Fitr it is also a holiday," he said.

Finally, there is also a suggestion so that there are no holidays during Ramadan. In essence, said Mu'ti, all the proposals will be considered in the cross-ministerial meeting.

"Essentially, all of these are proposals in the community, which we certainly monitor these proposals as part of public aspirations, which in the context of democracy are healthy because there is public participation in public policy makers," he said.