REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla has clarified that the application of a five-day school week system is not an obligation but an option.

"It is an option, and thus, it is up to the schools, parents, and regional leaders whether they want to apply it," Kalla remarked here on Tuesday.

According to the vice president, the implementation of the five-day school is not something new, as it has been applied, especially by private schools in big cities, such as Jakarta and Surabaya.

"Hence, the presidential regulation to be issued soon does not prohibit the five-day school week system, but it will depend on the local conditions," Kalla remarked.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will soon issue a regulation to strengthen character education to replace the controversial regulation of the Ministry of Education on a five-day school week system.

After distributing the school education subsidy card called "Kartu Indonesia Pintar" among students of the junior high school in Jember, East Java, on Sunday, President Jokowi said he had discussed the matter with the education and culture minister, and it will be made public after being finalized.

The president said there is no obligation for a school to implement a five-day week system or full day school system, and so, those that implement a six-day school system may continue to do it.

"I would like to reiterate that no school is obligated to implement a five-day school system, but any school that implements it may continue to do it as long as there is no complaint about it," he stated.

Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendi said the presidential regulation to strengthen character education will soon be issued, according to which a five-day school system is only an option and not compulsory.

"It will likely be issued next week. The regulation of the minister of education will be upgraded to a presidential regulation, with some improvements after taking in account suggestions from various parties," the education minister noted.

Effendi noted that the five-day school system is only an option, and so, schools that implement a six-day system may continue with it and those that have changed to a five-day school system may also carry on with it, so long as it will not hinder religious education activities.

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