Kudus (ANTARA) - Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, introduced the Great Indonesian Children Exercise program to students in Kudus, Central Java, on Sunday.
To promote the gymnastics program, Mu'ti joined a morning workout session with around a thousand elementary, junior high, and senior high students and teachers in the yard of Manafiul Ulum Islamic Elementary School.
He noted that the exercise program was designed as a character-building activity for pupils nationwide, aiming to instill a healthy lifestyle mindset in children.
He said that his ministry aims to implement the program nationwide with help from the ministries of Religious Affairs and Home Affairs.
According to Mu'ti, the exercise program is part of the Morning Assembly initiative, which encourages students to participate in pre-class activities, including morning exercises, singing the national anthem "Indonesia Raya," and praying together.
He urged schools across Indonesia to conduct such exercises every morning or at least twice a week to help students maintain their physical fitness.
"In addition to the Morning Assembly program, we are also promoting the Seven Awesome Indonesian Children's Habits program," he pointed out.
Under the program, the government seeks to encourage Indonesian children to wake up early, engage in worship, exercise regularly, eat healthy and nutritious meals, study enthusiastically, interact socially, and go to bed early.
Mu'ti asserted that such habits are key to maintaining children's physical and mental health, excelling academically, and fostering positive traits.
