Minister Calls For Additional Religious Education At Schools

Jakarta, Oct 1 (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has said he will discuss with the culture and education minister the possibility of additional religious education in Indonesia`s national curriculum. "I will discuss whether it should be included in school curriculum or be incorporated in extracurricular activities outside teaching hours," Suryadharma said after attending Pancasila Sanctity Day at Lubang Buaya on Monday. "Additional religious education is necessary for students to better develop their moral values, which should lead to a reduction in negative behaviours such as brawls, vandalism, and drug abuse," he added. Suryadharma stated that parents should also actively participate in educating their children and "not entirely entrust the job to schools". "Parents and teachers must be more aware about children and their environment," he pointed out. Suryadharma then called on the teachers to carry out regular inspection at schools to ensure that students do not bring in sharp weapons. Meanwhile, a legislator stated that at least 16 students had been killed this year in inter-school brawls across the country. "So far, 16 students have been killed in brawls this year. The government must clarify this. And we must respond to the problem before it becomes more complicated," said Rohmani, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X on education, culture, sports and tourism, here on Sunday. He added that the House Commission summoned the Directorate General of Secondary Education at the Education and Culture Ministry this week to provide an explanation on the rising number of student brawls. "The student brawls have caused public unrest," Rohmani noted. "So it is reasonable for the public to ask why violence often involves the younger generation," he said. "What is wrong with our educational system? Why does violence still happen in the educational sector?" asked Rohmani, who is a member of the Prosperous Justice Party faction in the DPR. On September 26, a student died after a brawl between Yake Vocational High School and Kartika Zeni Vocational High School students, which took place near Jalan Sahardjo, Tebet, South Jakarta. Two days earlier, on September 24, a student was killed during a brawl between State Senior High School 6 Bulungan and State Senior High School 70 in South Jakarta.