Full Day School Is Not Compulsory

President Jokowi gives a press statement after receiving the Association of Indonesian Batak Muslim on Thursday (10/8), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo asserted that five-day school policy or known as Full Day School (FDS) is not compulsory to be implemented in all schools across Indonesia. However, for those that already implemented the policy, the President instructed the schools to carry it on.

“Thus, I need to tell you that five-day school policy or Full Day School is not compulsory,” President Jokowi said after receiving the Association of Indonesian Batak Muslim on Thursday (10/8), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

The President’s statement was made to respond the protests conveyed by various parties upon the issuance of Regulation of Ministry of Education and Culture Number 23 of 2017 on Strengthening Character Education which regulated the 8 school hours for five-day schedule a week or full day school.

The Regulation is considered forcing the children to stay at school for long time so students have difficulty to do other activities. The protest also came from Nahdlatul Ulama side in which they believe the policy impedes children to take religious education (reading and reciting the Quran) at the Madrasa (Islamic educational institution) in the afternoon.

However, President Jokowi asserted that the readiness of each school to implement full day school may vary, and it is the defining factor. “In fact, several schools are ready (to implement the policy), while the others are not. We must know the situation on the ground,” the President said.

If there are schools that have been implemented five-day school and it is supported by the parents, people, and ulama (muslim scholars), the President allows the school to carry on (the five-day school).

For the record, Regulation of Ministry of Education and Culture Number 23 of 2017 has been replaced by a Presidential Regulation. President Jokowi told the reporters attending the press statement to ask about the details of that Presidential Regulation to the Minister of State Secretary. (BPMI Setpres/ES) (RA/MMB/YM/Naster)