Suara Pembaruan, page 17
The policy of the Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud), Muhadjir Effendy in regard to five-day school (LHS) had already been discussed in a closed meeting (ratas) in February 2017. When Mendikbud Regulation (Permendikbud) Number 23/2017 concerning implementation of character education through LHS was issued, however, actually there were a number of regions assessed as not being ready.
Cabinet Secretary, Pramono Agung said that in the February ratas, this idea had basically been reported by Mendikbud. When the Permendikbud was issued though, there were various pros and cons, because a number of regions are not yet ready for such a policy.
Therefore, according to Pramono, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) requested that the LHS program be evaluated in terms of its application. He added that the law regulating this program would also be strengthened. Thus the LHS policy will widely influence all students in Indonesia and will be regulated in a stronger regulation.
On a different occasion, Vice President (Wapres) of RI, Jusuf Kalla (JK), said that to prepare the implementation of a five-day school week of eight hours a day, otherwise known as full-day school, required a year at least.
In his view, there were still a number of points to be settled before such a policy can run in all elementary, junior high, and senior high schools in Indonesia. These include readiness of teachers, students, logistics, as well as supporting facilities and infrastructure.
In regard to the issuance of the Presidential Regulation (Perpres), JK said that this was first awaiting suggestions from various parties concerning application of a five full-day school week. Once the suggestions had been received and reviewed, the president would then issue the implementation regulation.
Based on such considerations, indirectly the LHS policy has not been applied in the academic year 2017/2018 starting this July.
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