Al-Falah blends int'l education, Islam<\/p>\n
By Listiana Operananta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There is something special about this open
\nclassroom. It does not look like any ordinary classroom in the
\ncountry. The room is filled with neatly arranged colorful toys
\nand blocks. There is a TV set and some musical instruments in one
\ncorner and a doll house in another. There are also miniature
\nhousehold equipment and tools we use in everyday life.<\/p>\n
The room is also filled with the sound of children talking to
\ntheir teachers and singing songs.<\/p>\n
Welcome to Al-Falah, an Islamic preschool which combines
\nIslamic teaching with an international standard education.
\nLocated in Cibubur, East Jakarta, Al-Falah preschool is working
\nin cooperation with the renowned Creative Preschool in
\nTallahassee, Florida, a national model preschool in the U.S.<\/p>\n
The cooperation involves teachers from Al-Falah being trained
\nin childhood development and education at special courses
\nconducted by the Creative Preschool.<\/p>\n
The Al-Falah principal, Nibras Salim, said that the school
\nintegrated seven centers required for the educational development
\nof children aged between three and six years.<\/p>\n
She said the centers have been designed to enable the children
\nto optimize their learning ability and creativity.<\/p>\n
\"The system is unique because it encourages students to be
\nmore creative,\" Nibras said.<\/p>\n
For example, she said, there is a musical center where the
\nchildren can learn movement and rhythm, as well as mathematics.<\/p>\n
Mooseno, the Al-Falah foundation director, said that the
\npreschool, despite the implementation of an international
\neducational standard, is based on Islamic teaching.<\/p>\n
\"We want our children to have the opportunity to learn and at
\nthe same time have some fun at school, but we also want them to
\nhave a strong understanding of their religion, which is the most
\nimportant thing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Pamela C. Phelps, owner and director of the Tallahassee
\nCreative Preschool, said during her visit to Al-Falah that her
\nschool provides Al-Falah with advice on children's education and
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
\"But, of course Al-Falah has its own way to implement what
\nkind of programs it wants, with Islamic teaching and the
\ngovernment curriculum as its base,\" she said.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Phelps, who obtained her Phd. in early
\nchildhood development from the Florida State University,
\npreschools and playgroups have an important influence on
\nchildhood development.<\/p>\n
\"Children from three to four do not have an understanding of
\nthe activities they play. For example, they like to play with
\nscissors but they do not really understand the function of the
\ntool,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Phelps said that preschool and playgroup can help
\nstimulate early age development of children.<\/p>\n
\"If we educate children when they're at the elementary school
\nage, it is too late. They have already formed their own
\nunderstanding,\" she said.<\/p>\n
In preschool children learn to read in a fun way which can
\nencourage their reading habit. This differs from formal
\nelementary school where they might be pushed to read by
\nmemorizing letters.<\/p>\n
\"They would stop reading because they think it's not fun,
\nit's just something they have to do,\" she said.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that children have lots of fun learning at
\nAl-Falah, but some parents might not see the fun in paying the
\nhigh fees. They have to pay Rp 5 million enrollment fee for the
\ntwo-year preschool education and Rp 300,000 monthly fee.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/al-falah-blends-intl-education-islam-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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