The Hindu-majority island of Bali and the predominantly Catholic province of East Nusa Tenggara are rescheduling their vocational high school exams because the original agenda conflicted with their religious holidays.

Nationally, the exams have been set for April 3 to 6 but educational authorities on Bali have postponed them until April 10 to 13 alongside the regular high schools because of Galungan, the Hindu holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma (good over evil), which occurs this Wednesday.

In contrast, in East Nusa Tenggara both the vocational and regular school national exams have been brought forward to this week so that people there can better focus on next week’s Good Friday and Easter.             

“In other provinces, the national exams have been proceeding as scheduled,” the Education and Culture Ministry's inspector general, Daryanto, told the press on Monday.

Bali has set April 4 to 6 as the province’s official holidays to enable believers to observe Galungan peacefully.  (hol)