Number of preschools constantly increasing<\/p>\n
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The number of preschools in Indonesia has grown rapidly over
\nthe last several years as more and more parents become aware of
\nthe importance of early childhood education for their children.<\/p>\n
But, in fact, the provision of informal education programs for
\nchildren at an early age started a long time ago. Such informal
\neducational activities are commonly conducted in mosques,
\nmusholla (prayer houses), churches and private homes.<\/p>\n
Children are frequently seen visiting mosques or musholla in
\ncities, kampongs and villages in many parts of the country in the
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
While cheerfully playing, the children do not only learn
\nIslamic teaching in a simple and entertaining way, but also learn
\nto read and write.<\/p>\n
\"The children attending informal classes in mosques or
\nmusholla are aged between four and six. The learning activities allow
\nthem to socialize and interact with each other and, thus, it
\nallows them to develop their emotions,\" said Asni Jafar,
\ndeputy head of the Aisyiah Kindergarten's educational division.<\/p>\n
Similarly, many Christian parents also send their children to
\na church or private house on Sundays to learn Christian
\nteachings. \"Learning activities in mosques and churches help
\nchildren prepare themselves before entering elementary school,\"
\nsaid Asni.<\/p>\n
While the tradition of providing informal educational classes
\ncontinues, more formal preschools have been established in many
\nparts of the country due the rising demand for formal educational
\nprograms from parents.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that this year, over
\n47,000 registered kindergartens are now operating in the country,
\nmany of which are run by private organizations. This figure does
\nnot include playgroups and unregistered kindergartens.<\/p>\n
Many preschools are established and run by religious
\norganizations, institutions and foundations, and many others by
\nindividuals or foundations that have no connection with organized
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
Aisyiah Bustanul Athfal, Al Hidayah, Al-Azhar, Kartika,
\nTarakanita, Mutiara and Penabur Benih -- to name but a few --
\nare established kindergartens that apply the Indonesian
\ncurriculum and have opened many branches across the country.<\/p>\n
Aisyiah Bustanul Athfal (ABA) kindergarten, one of the long
\nestablished ones, was founded by Aisyiah, a women's branch of
\nMuhammadyah, in Yogjakarta in 1919.<\/p>\n
ABA kindergartens can be found in almost every province in the
\ncountry thanks to the organization's policy that obliges every
\nbranch office of Aisyiah to set up a kindergarten. To date, the
\nABA kindergarten organization has over 5,300 kindergartens spread
\nthroughout the country.<\/p>\n
The ABA kindergartens emphasize the importance of implanting
\nIslamic teachings in children at an early age. \"Concretely,
\nchildren are taught how to perform the basic components of shalat
\n(five obligatory daily prayers), and how to conduct wudhu (ritual
\nablutions before prayers),\" said Asni Jafar, deputy head of
\nAisyiah's educational division.<\/p>\n
The growing awareness among parents about the need to cultivate
\nIslamic teachings in children at an early age has also
\ncontributed to the popularity of Aisyiah playgroups and
\nkindergartens.<\/p>\n
Apart from implanting Islamic teachings, the schools also
\nprovide lessons based on the national curriculum set by the
\nMinistry of Education.<\/p>\n
\"The curriculum is designed based on what children need. In
\naddition to their physiques, children at an early age need to
\ndevelop their intellects, language skills, social skills,
\nemotions and other psychological aspects,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The ABA kindergartens are not only targeted at the lower and
\nmiddle-income brackets, but also at the upper-income brackets.
\nEnrollment fees vary, depending on location.<\/p>\n
Enrollment fees in certain areas like Kebayoran Baru are set
\nat between Rp 3 million and Rp 4 million (about US$425), with
\nschool fees of Rp 150,000 per month. The school fees in poor
\nareas like Taman Sari, Kota, Central Jakarta, are set at between
\nRp 300,000 and Rp 500,000.<\/p>\n
Children from poor families are exempted from paying school
\nfees provided that their parents submit a letter explaining their
\neconomic circumstances, she said.<\/p>\n
Like Aisyiah, Al-Azhar Kindergartens emphasize the importance
\nof inculcating Islamic teachings in children at an early age. A
\nkindergarten using the name Al Azhar was first founded by the
\nYayasan Pesantren Islam Al-Azhar at the Al-Azhar Mosque in South
\nJakarta in 1968.<\/p>\n
\"The Al-Azhar kindergarten organization started to grow in the
\n1980s. At least 30 Al-Azhar kindergartens are now operating in
\nmany different areas of Indonesia,\" said a staffer at the Yayasan
\nPesantren Islam Al-Azhar.<\/p>\n
Besides Jakarta, Al-Azhar kindergartens can also be found in
\nother provinces, such as West Java, East Java and West
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
Al-Azhar kindergartens, which are known for offering modern
\nfacilities, have enrollment fees of between Rp 9 million and Rp
\n10 million.<\/p>\n
The Al-Azhar kindergarten in Jakarta and its branches are
\nmanaged by the Yayasan Pesantren Islam Al-Azhar. There are,
\nhowever, other kindergartens that use the name Al-Azhar that are
\nmanaged jointly with other foundations as partners.<\/p>\n
Despite the involvement of other parties in running its
\nschools, Al-Azhar Central Office is fully in charge of the
\neducational aspects, such as the provision of teachers and
\ncurricula.<\/p>\n
\"The other parties involved usually provide the sites for the
\nschools and support facilities, such as chairs, tables
\nwhiteboards and children's playground equipment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Many other preschools have been founded by individuals that
\nhave an interest in the development of children. Among them are
\nthe preschools founded by Seto Mulyadi, an educator, scientist
\nand psychologist, who is familiarly known as Kak Seto.<\/p>\n
Kak Seto's preschools are operated under the umbrella of the
\nMutiara Foundation and the Mentari Foundation.<\/p>\n
Children at Kak Seto's preschools do not only play while
\nlearning, but also get to learn about some initial aspects of
\nIndonesian culture at an early age.<\/p>\n
The preschools managed by the foundations also provide a
\nvariety of traditional Indonesian games, such as ular tangga
\n(snakes and ladders).<\/p>\n
The games are designed not only to stimulate children's
\ncreativity but also make them emotionally and spiritually better,
\naccording to Kak Seto.<\/p>\n
The preschools operating under the umbrella of the Mutiara
\nFoundation and the Mentari Foundation date back to 1975 when Kak
\nSeto established a play group called Istana Anak-Anak (the
\nChildren's Palace) in Taman Ria Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Currently, the two foundations run nearly 30 playgroups and
\nkindergartens, most of which are in Greater Jakarta and areas
\noutside of Jakarta, including Cirebon and Bandung in West Java,
\nEast Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
In addition to such national-based preschools, the number of
\npreschools offering international curricula is also increasing in
\nthe country's major cities.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/number-of-preschools-constantly-increasing-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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