TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs changes the status of ten Private Christian Religious Education Units (SPKK) to become public schools. These ten SPKK are spread across four provinces, namely Papua, West Papua, Southwest Papua, and East Nusa Tenggara.
The status change is marked by the issuance of Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation No. 23 of 2024 concerning the Organization and Work Procedures of Christian Religious Education Units. The regulation was handed over by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Muhammad Ali Ramdhani, to the Director General of Christian Community Guidance, Jeane Marie Tulung at the HM Rasjidi Auditorium of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Central Jakarta, on Monday, October 14, 2024.
Ali Ramdhani stated that the conversion of private schools to public schools is part of the vision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to improve accessibility, quality, and governance of Christian religious education in Indonesia.
“Accessibility does not only bring educational institutions, but also opens up opportunities for the entire community to enjoy educational services. Education for all must be a shared mission,” he said in an official statement, quoted on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Meanwhile, Jeane Marie Tulung said that the issuance of this regulation is the result of an identification process of needs in the field. “After undergoing intensive discussions with various relevant parties and strict harmonization, the draft regulation was then submitted to the Minister of Religious Affairs for approval,” she explained.
She also hopes that this status change can improve the governance of SPKK. This status change increases the number of public Christian schools from three to thirteen.
As for the 10 SPKK that have changed their status to become public, they consist of levels from Christian Theology Junior High School (SMPTK), Christian Theology High School (SMTK), to Christian Religious High School (SMAK).
With state status, these ten SPKK will receive support in facilities, budget, and quality improvement of education in accordance with national standards. Here is a list of 10 SPKK that have changed their status to become public:
1. Central Sumba Public SMTK, Central Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara
2. South Central Timor Public SMTK, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara
3. Kupang Public SMAK, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara
4. East Sumba Public SMAK, East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara
5. Yapen Islands Public SMTK, Yapen Islands Regency, Papua
6. Manokwari Public SMPTK, Manokwari Regency, West Papua
7. Teluk Wondama Public SMPTK, Teluk Wondama Regency, West Papua
8. Raja Ampat Public SMPTK, Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua
9. Sorong Public SMPTK, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua
10. South Sorong Public SMPTK, South Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua.
Editor’s Choice: Cyprus to Ban Mobile Use in Schools
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News