Campaign to promote Islamic studies launched

JAKARTA (JP): Students across the country will begin their month-long holiday next week studying Islam in a government- sponsored campaign to promote religious studies in schools.

President Soeharto launched yesterday the nationwide campaign to encourage schools to hold short courses on Islam, called Pesantren Kilat.

"The program is meant to complement the religious teaching that students receive in schools," Soeharto said in a ceremony attended by Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro and chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas Hasan Basri.

"We realize that religious teaching at schools is very limited," Soeharto said.

In the current national curriculum, students get 2.5 hour of religious teaching a week. Some believe that this is not enough.

"Given this limited time, it's fitting that the Pesantren Kilat program is held during school holidays," he said. "Our children will then be able to fill their holidays with religious duties."

Soeharto said that the courses would enrich the students' knowledge, and raise their awareness of religious duties, deepening their faith and encouraging them to practice Islam in daily life.

"This program is in line with the goals of the national curriculum as stipulated in the Broad Guidelines of State Policies," he added.

The Pesantren Kilat is designed for pupils of fifth and sixth grades in the elementary school, and students of junior and senior high schools. Participation is voluntary.

The government wants to counter rising juvenile delinquency, especially in big cities.

The program this year will only be introduced in provincial capitals and one or two regency towns. If successful, it will be extended to other towns next year.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) provides its own teachers to work with teachers of state schools that administer the program.

Speaking to 200 pupils in the launching yesterday, Soeharto said national development called for hard work and discipline.

"You should make an effort to meet future demand now," he said. "Playing games and having fun are also necessary, but you should not forget that you also have to compete."

The program will not teach youngsters only about their faith but it will also instill a sense of "togetherness". Students spend the whole week together, sleeping, eating, learning, reciting the Koran and holding discussions.

A number of organizations, including private schools, have already run Pesantren Kilat. But this is the first time that the concept is being used at state schools. (01)