Govt backs program of 'pesantren kilat'
Govt backs program of 'pesantren kilat'
JAKARTA (JP): With full government support, the Indonesian
Ulema Council (MUI) is launching a nationwide crash course on
religion modeled on pesantren (Moslem boarding school) at state
schools in major cities during this coming school holiday.
The national pesantren kilat program is seen as an effective
way of instilling religious teachings and values among youngsters
to counter the rising juvenile delinquency in big cities, MUI
chairman Hasan Basri told reporters.
"The President is most concerned about the state of our young
generation, seeing the mass brawls and killings that have
occurred in Jakarta and other big cities," he said after briefing
the President about the program at Merdeka Palace.
"The President came to the conclusion that this was mainly
because of lack of religious education," said Hasan, who was
accompanied by Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher and
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro.
A number of private organizations, including private schools,
have already run pesantren kilat which help children fill their
time during the long school holidays. But this is the first time
that the concept is being applied at state schools.
The program will be launched simultaneously on June 17 and
will last for one week. It is designed for Moslem pupils of fifth
grade of elementary school and second graders of junior and
senior high schools. Participation is voluntary.
MUI will provide teachers to work with teachers of state
schools that administer the program.
The program this year will only be introduced in provincial
capitals and one or two regency towns. If successful, it will be
expanded to other towns next year.
The program will not teach youngsters solely about their faith
but it will also instill a sense of "togetherness" as students
will spend the whole week together -- sleeping, dining, learning,
reciting the Koran and holding discussions, Hasan said.
He explained that religious education is only taught for 2.5
hours a week under the current national education curriculum and
this is hardly sufficient. "It is not sufficient to study
religion. You also have to understand it and practice it," he
said.
Minister Tarmizi said the pesantren kilat program is the
equivalent of Christian's Sunday school.
Minister Wardiman said the program is to give every youngster
a taste of pesantren at least once in their life. (emb)