The Plan To Convert Pondok Cina 1 Public Elementary School Into A Mosque In Margonda, Depok, Should Be Reviewed

A number of parents of SDN Pondok Cina 1 Depok City on Thursday 10 November 2022 protested the plan to convert the school's land to a mosque. (Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of parents of students at SDN Pondok Cina 1 Depok City have insisted on asking the Depok City Government to immediately cancel the plan to convert the school's land into a Grand Mosque. Unless, indeed, a replacement building has been prepared.

They don't accept that students have to go to another school. This is because the relocation school is actually also not ready in terms of infrastructure to accommodate hundreds of students at SDN Pondok Cina 1 Depok City.

"We don't have a problem with this land being built for anything. What we want, please do it the right way. Prepare the replacement land first, so that our children are not divided and have to go in during the day," said the parent of a student, known as Ika, during a dialogue with representatives from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), last Friday.

The atmosphere of the dialogue is very tense. A number of parents and students cried and screamed hysterically when they complained about their children's condition. Moreover, knowing that their aspirations have been ignored. Even though there has not been a meeting point, the Depok City Education Office will continue the school relocation process as of November 14, 2022.

The Pondok Cina 1 SDN gate in Depok City was blocked by a 1.2-meter-high sidewalk. (Twitter/@Adtykrnwn)

KPAI Commissioner Retno Listyarti understands the objections of the parents of these students. They consider the policies of the Depok City Education Office (Disdik) not to be in favor of the interests of the child.

“Many children have been going to school in the morning and afternoon tutoring or reciting the Koran. With the afternoon school policy, their children cannot take lessons or recite the Koran, considering that there are no places for tutoring and reciting the Koran in the morning," said Retno in a written statement received by VOI, Sunday (11/20).

The City Government of Depok has indeed socialized the regrouping or merging with parent-student associations since 2021. However, the reality is that the regrouping process has not reached a common ground.

SDN Pondok Cina 3 and SDN Pondok Cina 5 which were the relocation sites did not have sufficient classrooms to accommodate the 360 ​​students from SDN Pondok Cina 1.

"It is known that the new classrooms at Pondok China 5 Elementary School will only be built with the 2023 budget. But the Education Office has moved them in 2022," said Retno.

Like it or not, the learning mechanism is carried out using alternating classes, morning classes, and afternoon classes.

Posters protesting against the plan to relocate SDN Pondok China 1 in Depok City are still displayed on November 9, 2022. (Antara/Asprilla Dwi Adha)

Since the implementation of the transfer, only 120 students have gone to the two schools. Meanwhile, 240 other students remained.

“Students who choose to stay are neglected by their educational services. The teaching and learning process is carried out by volunteers, not by teachers because all the teachers have been transferred to SDN Pondok Cina 3 and SDN Pondok Cina 5,” said Retno.

It lasted 4 days. Thus, there is a potential violation of the National Education System Law. In article 12 of Law no. 20 of 2003 concerning the National Education System (Sisdiknas) stipulates, "Every student in each education unit has the right to receive educational services according to their talents, interests and abilities".

Article 11 of the National Education System Law also states "The Government and Regional Governments are obliged to provide services and facilities, and guarantee the implementation of quality education for every citizen without discrimination".

Besides, according to Retno, the principle of school regrouping  has been referring to a smaller number of students, generally under 100 students. Combined with other schools whose number of students is also less.

"Meanwhile, the conditions of the 3 schools in Pondok Cina which are close to each other have a very large number of students. SDN Pondok Cina 3 has 253 students and SDN Pondok Cina 5 has 182 students. Meanwhile, Pondok Cina 1 has more students, 360 students. Therefore, the reason for regrouping is difficult to accept," Retno added.

KPAI recommendation

On this basis, KPAI asked the Principal of SDN Pondok Cina 1 Depok City in a short term solution or if there is still a polemic, it is obligatory to provide distance learning to students who are still studying at their original school and are required to serve semester exams which will be held in December 2022.

All assignments and semester exam results will be included in student learning outcomes in this semester's report card, because this is a child's right that is guaranteed by law.

"KPAI has conveyed directly to the school and the Depok City Education Office regarding this proposal and the school and the Education office when asking for information from the parties. Both the school and the Depok Education Office are willing to fulfill the child's rights," said Retno.

KPAI also urges the Depok City Education Office to immediately return the learning process of 360 students at SDN Pondok Cina 1 Depok to its original location until the construction of the mosque and school building is ready to be carried out on time.

"This decision will create a conducive situation and children will also be served well in their education," said Retno.

The teaching-learning process of students at Pondok China 1 Elementary School in Depok City was disrupted. The majority chose to stay and did not want to be transferred to another school. Those who survived carry out learning activities with the volunteers. (KPAI Documentation)

If the decision is still made to build a mosque on that land, it would also be a good idea to maintain the existence of SDN Pondok Cina 1.

The mosque can be on the 1st floor, while the study rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The mosque is part of the school building that can be used by school residents and local residents to worship.

This is based on the best interest of children to have the right to education as mandated by Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution and Law no. 20 of 2003 concerning the National Education System and can serve residents who need a mosque.

“Many schools in various regions have school mosques that local residents can also use for congregational and Friday prayers. High-rise school buildings can also be found in various regions due to limited land to build schools, "added Retno.

Relocation Or Canceled

Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris emphasized that the process of relocating teaching and learning places for the students of SDN Pondok Cina 1 was only temporary. This is not a merger.

"Temporary boarding, because the classrooms at Pondok Cina 3 Elementary School and Pondok China 5 Elementary School are limited, there are divided classes in the morning and afternoon. So, please be patient, this is just a technical problem," he said recently.

The Depok City Government also plans to buy land to build a more representative school to replace Pondok China 1 Public Elementary School. It will no longer be on the Margonda roadside which will endanger elementary school children.

"That's what I thought, so please be patient for a moment, avoid provoking actions and do clarifications to us, the Education Office or the Education Office in particular," he added.

Mayor of Depok, Mohammad Idris, said that the Depok City Government is planning to prepare replacement land for Pondok China 1 Elementary School. (Antara)

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, on November 17 also spoke about this polemic. "If the land is not clean and clear to transfer functions, then it should be discussed first as best as possible until all parties accept it."

If the land is not ready, Ridwan Kamil suggests that the mosque construction plan be reviewed. Can change location or can also be canceled.

According to Ridwan Kamil, the Depok City Government has indeed asked for assistance from the West Java Provincial Government to build a mosque on Margonda Street with claims based on people's aspirations. The West Java Provincial Government has agreed on the condition that the land is available.

"So, the Depok City Government asked for help. Of course, we will help with the condition that the land must be settled. I got a report that the land was cleared, but apparently not yet. This must be resolved by the Depok City Government first," said Ridwan Kamil.