TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bandung Education Agency has issued a circular letter banning school students in the city from celebrating Valentine's Day. "We take anticipation measures because the commemoration of Valentine's Day [is too exaggerated]. We have conveyed [the letter] to teachers, teachers will convey the message to the students," said Elih Sudiapermana, Chief of the Bandung Education Agency on Thursday, February 11, 2016. Elih said that the circular letter will be distributed to all schools in the city, starting from elementary school up to high school.
The letter actually has been issued back in 2015, according to Elih. It was issued based on the consideration that students' behavior, specifically, teenager students, have becoming more and more deviant in addressing Valentine’s Day.
"We notice from social media it even leads to free sex, parties, and [getting drunk on liquor]. We were worried that [these actions] will be copied by children," Elih said.
In addition, Elih said that the circular is expected to encourage teenagers to preserve Indonesia’s original culture "without having to copy foreign cultures that deviates from values of love."
PUTRA PRIMA PERDANA