Minister Of PPA's Statement On Religious Discrimination At Schools In History Today, 17 July 2017

JAKARTA Memories of today, eight years ago, 17 July 2017, the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPA), Yohana Yambise emphasized that the government received many reports of discrimination against different religions in schools. Most reports occur in private schools.

Previously, cases of discrimination of different religions often occurred in the archipelago. This problem is increasingly sticking out with the emergence of cases of discrimination against different religions at SMPN 3 Genteng in Banyuwangi. The school only wants to accept Muslim students.

Diversity has become a strength that Indonesia has. Differences are not an obstacle for Indonesia to become a great nation. The narrative continues to be emphasized by the nation's leaders many times. The goal is for the Indonesian people to realize that differences are not destroyers, but strengths.

Problems arise. A few people are sometimes reluctant to agree with diversity. They like to create exclusion as adherents of the same religion. Those who come from outside the religion are considered like disruptors.

This condition was present at SMPN 3 Genteng, Banyuwangi in July 2017. At that time the school was accepting new students. Parents are happy that students are not playing with their children to enter junior high school. However, not Timothy Purno Ribowo.

Timothy's mood swings occurred when the registration officer said they only accepted Muslim students. Those outside Islam are not accepted. The statement made Timothy's son cry. The debate occurred.

The school finally accepted his son's origin and had to wear a headscarf. Timothy ignored that wish. He refused to register his son. The story of Timonius also spreads throughout the country.

This condition made SMPN 3 Genteng criticized by various parties. The school's actions are considered to lead to divisions.

"I got the information that I was very shocked. I called Pak Sulihtiyono (head of the education office), and asked for it to be checked. It turned out that it was the initiative rule for his school leadership. Frankly, I was disappointed. We are the leaders guarding the harmony of the people, how come there are still paradigms like this. . "

"If you wear a headscarf for Muslim students, it doesn't matter. However, this is applied in general without seeing the background of the student's religion," said Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar as quoted on the detik.com page, July 16, 2017.

The polemic of discrimination between religions in schools has reached the ears of Yohana Yambise. The Minister of PPA admitted that he was sad that the problem of discrimination between religions in schools often occurred. He revealed that the case of SMPN 3 Genteng was not the only case that occurred in Indonesia.

Yonaha emphasized that throughout 2017 15 reports had been submitted regarding the discrimination of different religions on July 17, 2017. The report emerged from various regions of the archipelago. The most surprising thing is that discriminating reports of different religions do not come from public schools.

Yohana revealed that private schools were the most reported related to cases of discrimination between religions. He suspects that there has been discrimination because recently the issues of radicalism have been rampant.

"(Reports) that I have received, there have been around 15 reports. A lot of it. So (prospective students) from (schools) in the country, then entered the private sector. There were also those who moved and were rejected. Recently appeared in these years. After rumors of radicalism emerged, the reports appeared," said Yohana as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, July 17, 2017.