Islamic schools included in compulsory program<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government expects all Islamic schools to
\ntake part in the compulsory education program implemented since
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Andi Rasdiyanah, director general of development of Islamic
\nInstitutions of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told the House
\nof Representatives yesterday that both madrasah (Islamic
\nelementary and high school) and pesantren (traditional Islamic
\nboarding school), fall under the nine-year compulsory education
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
In a hearing with the Commission IX (for education), she said
\nmany obstacles face Islamic schools who try to comply with the
\nprogram, but issues of quality and quantity are certainly the
\nmost serious.<\/p>\n
In terms of quantity, Rasdiyanah said, the number of madrasah
\nis still comparatively small: 16.6 percent of all Indonesian
\nschools; the other 83.4 percent are either state-owned or private
\nnon-religious schools.<\/p>\n
A lack of qualified teachers also presents problems. Many of
\nthe present teachers are not highly educated, she said. This
\nshortage does not afflict just madrasah. According to Rasdiyanah
\nthe whole country is still suffering from a shortage of sciences
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
A shortage of classroom space is also another obstacle for
\nmaking the program a success, as is shortages of books and
\neducational equipment, she said. Furthermore, the quality of
\ntext books which are available must also be questioned.<\/p>\n
\"The curriculum needs to be improved and updated,\" Rasdiyanah
\ntold House members.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Rasdiyanah pointed out that the curriculum of
\nIslamic schools is similar to that of public schools. \"The only
\nexception is that in madrasah students are given 30 percent more
\nreligious teachings than in public schools.\"<\/p>\n
According to Rasdiyanah, the Ministry of Religious Affairs
\nplans to take over the privately-owned madrasah gradually \"for
\nthe sake of efficiency.\"<\/p>\n
She said in the year 2004 the ministry expects the ratio of
\npublic Islamic elementary schools to private ones to become
\n30:70. Presently, that ratio is 5:95.<\/p>\n
The ratio between public and private Islamic junior high
\nschools is expected to rise to 50:50 from its current ratio of
\n24:76, she said.<\/p>\n
Rasdiyanah said that the government has plans to improve
\nteacher quality. \"The Ministry of Religious Affairs has sent many
\nIslamic teachers to Western and Middle Eastern countries to
\npursue further education.\" (05)<\/p>",
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