‘Zombie’ morning school routine trial sparks anger among parents in Indonesia

‘It is extremely difficult, they now have to leave home while it’s still pitch dark’

A pilot project in Indonesia that is forcing sleepy teenagers to attend school at dawn has led to public outcry.

Twelfth graders at 10 high schools in Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, are being made to take part in the controversial project to get the day off to an early start. Schools in the southeast Asian country usually start between 7 and 8am.

According to the authorities, the scheme announced last month by governor Viktor Laiskodat is intended to strengthen children’s discipline.