Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Culture and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy intends to strengthen religious education for students by excluding it from the regular in-classroom curriculum and offering various religion-based extracurricular activities.
He made the statement to clarify recent media reports that claimed Muhadjir had planned to remove religious lessons altogether.
"In fact, religious education, which is currently considered insufficient during religious lessons in schools, will be strengthened through extracurricular activities," the ministry's spokesperson, Ari Santoso, said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Culture and Education Ministry Regulation No. 23/2017 on school days, schools can cooperate with educational institutions that implement character education in accordance with religious values.
Ari went on to explain that Muhadjir had focused on implementing stronger character education.
He cited an example in Siak regency, Riau, where students attend school until 12 p.m. and continue with religious lessons led by clerics. Lunch for students is provided and funded by the regional budget.
In Pasuruan regency, East Java, students receive religious lessons in madrasah (Islamic schools) after normal school hours.
The ministerial regulation also pushes for strengthening religious character-building through extracurricular activities.
"It includes activities in Islamic schools, short-term studies at Islamic boarding school, religious sermons, retreats, catechesis, as well as reading and writing the Quran and other holy scriptures," Ari said. (bbs)