Misguided SKB Three Ministers 'Hanging Around' In Schools, FSGI: Difficult To Implement, It Is Unclear Who Is Supervising

Illustration-Woman wearing a headscarf (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The government has issued a Joint Decree (SKB) for three ministers regarding the use of uniforms and attributes in public schools for primary and secondary education.

The SKB was signed by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud), the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri).

It seems that there are still many misconceptions about the SKB, as found by the Federation of Indonesian Teachers' Union (FSGI), both from the school and parents. Ironically, misinformation is actually spread through social media.

"The very sharp pros and cons plus distrust of the government, including the Minister of Education and Culture, have made this misinformation spread massively," said FSGI Wasekjen Fahriza Tanjung in his statement, Monday, February 8.

Based on reports from SMAN 38 Jakarta teacher Slamet Maryanto, for example, it is admitted that many parents are worried, especially those who send their children to Madrasahs.

They are worried that if madrasas such as MI, MTs and MA may be subject to the same rules, they will be given the freedom to choose whether to wear the hijab or not.

Then, the Head of SMA Negeri 3 Seluma Regency, Nihan. She reported to FSGI that parents at her school considered wearing the headscarf completely prohibited.

"In fact, there are those who think that students are given the right to be free to determine the shape and type of school uniform. As the principal, of course I cannot provide clarification because it has not been socialized," said Nihan in his report.

In addition, there are also unrest among teachers who teach Islamic studies. Teachers of Islamic Religious Education have so far obliged the use of the hijab on students who are taking Islamic religious lessons.

"So it is only obligatory for students who do not wear the hijab on a daily basis. This means that only during face-to-face lessons specifically for Islamic religious studies, is this a violation? " said Fahriza.

Regarding this issue, FSGI considers the ministerial instruction requiring schools to implement the Three Ministerial Decree to revoke the rule that prohibits or requires school uniforms with or without certain religious characteristics to be difficult to implement.

"If the time is 30 days since it is signed, according to FSGI it will be difficult to implement in the field, considering that most schools are currently still learning distance learning, how is government control in the next 30 days, while the supervision system and who carries out the supervision have not been regulated in The SKB 3 Ministers, "said Fahriza.

For information, in the SKB, students, educators, and education personnel in public schools have the right to choose to wear uniform attributes with or without certain religious characteristics.

Then, local governments and schools may not oblige, order, require, appeal to, or prohibit the use of uniforms and attributes with certain religious characteristics.