My Answer to Full-day School Policy

On August, there was an idea being proposed by the ministry of education, Muhadjir Effendy. The ministry is very concern towards the condition of our children who roam at the street and left alone at home because their parents are still working. That is the reason why he proposed the idea of full-day school, both in state and private school for elementary and middle school students. He believes that the students who stay at school from 7 AM to 5 PM will receive an opportunity to explore themselves at school. For that the ministry believes it will not only beneficial for the students but also for the parents who will feel secure leaving their children at school.  

One of the school's conditions in North Aceh of Indonesia

Of course the intention of the ministry is good but probably lacked in knowledge of the education condition in the grassroots level such as in underdeveloped, isolated or border area. In the rural area across Indonesia, the facilities for full-day school are still lacked. Not only in term of facilities, but the teacher services also need to be improved in order for the project to be implemented. Last but not least, implementing the full-day school won’t erase the risk of getting “rebel” like all parents hope.

As a teacher that gives services in the underdeveloped and isolated area in Indonesia, I’ve seen my share of Indonesian education in the grassroots. The school that I teach, for example, it doesn’t have any toilet, canteen or medical first aid for the students. It will be hard for them to stay in school; they need to go back and forth toward home often. For that will affect the learning and teaching process itself. The lack of activity outside of school, for example, will force them to do only traditional learning such as reading or writing in the class. We all understand that as children need rest, social time, and explore their world but without sufficient quality of co-curricular and extracurricular, it will rob them out of their right. Instead of having fun at school, they will feel trapped.

Once all of us were students, I believe we all know the bad influence is not only come from out of school but inside. The channel of the bad influence can be anywhere; friends outside of school, inside of the school, internet, and even teacher. Are we going to eradicate all of those above prevent the risk? If we are, we might then just lock out kids in their bedroom all day. What more important is how to build the morality of the students; not only eradicating one of the channels. We protect them by helping them protect themselves. We protect them by making a good example, showing the good choices, and helping them through a hard time. 

Those are the reasons why we should not implement the policy proposed nationally. Firstly, our facilities and resources need to be met first. Second, We help them to protect themselves from the inside. If then, all of them are met we should consider this idea once more.