If The Permendikbud Violates, The Principal Of SMKN 2 Padang Must Be Sanctioned

Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud) deplores acts of intolerance when a Christian student is asked to wear a hijab at the State Vocational High School (SMKN) 2 Padang, West Sumatra.

The Director General of Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Wikan Sakarinto, said that there must be strict sanctions against every perpetrator who is proven to have violated the regulations which led to acts of intolerance in the education unit.

"The provisions regarding student clothing in educational units have been regulated in a Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture," he said in a release published by Antara, Saturday, January 23.

Provisions regarding school uniforms are regulated through the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture (Permendikbud) Number 45 of 2014 concerning School Uniforms for Students in Primary and Secondary Education Levels.

The Minister of Education and Culture's Regulation on school uniforms does not require certain religious clothing styles to be school uniforms.

In addition, schools may not make regulations or appeals for students to use specific religious clothing models as school uniforms.

Schools also may not prohibit participants from wearing school uniforms with specific religious clothing models based on the wishes of the parents, guardians, and students concerned.

"The Education Office must ensure that school principals, teachers, educators and education personnel comply with Permendikbud Number 45 of 2014," said Wikan.

The West Sumatra Education Office will conduct an evaluation of discriminatory regulations and take firm action against officers who do not comply with the regulations.

Regarding the response of the head of the local service, Wikan appreciated the regional government for acting quickly to resolve the issue.

"We support every step of the investigation and resolution of this problem as quickly as possible to ensure that the same incident does not happen either at the school concerned or in other areas," said Wikan.

Kemdikbud also requests and continues to encourage all regional governments to consistently disseminate information on Permendikbud Number 45 of 2014. Thus, all education offices, education units, and the community have the same understanding of the provisions of school uniforms.

Kemdikbud hopes that all education citizens are able to understand, implement, and maintain so that mutual respect and tolerance can be realized as much as possible.

"The hope is that there will be no more practice of violating rules related to uniforms concerning the religion and belief of a person in the education unit. We at the Ministry will continue to work hard and take firm steps so that intolerant practices in the educational environment can be stopped," said Wikan.