Number of preschools constantly increasing

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The number of preschools in Indonesia has grown rapidly over the last several years as more and more parents become aware of the importance of early childhood education for their children.

But, in fact, the provision of informal education programs for children at an early age started a long time ago. Such informal educational activities are commonly conducted in mosques, musholla (prayer houses), churches and private homes.

Children are frequently seen visiting mosques or musholla in cities, kampongs and villages in many parts of the country in the afternoon.

While cheerfully playing, the children do not only learn Islamic teaching in a simple and entertaining way, but also learn to read and write.

"The children attending informal classes in mosques or musholla are aged between four and six. The learning activities allow them to socialize and interact with each other and, thus, it allows them to develop their emotions," said Asni Jafar, deputy head of the Aisyiah Kindergarten's educational division.

Similarly, many Christian parents also send their children to a church or private house on Sundays to learn Christian teachings. "Learning activities in mosques and churches help children prepare themselves before entering elementary school," said Asni.

While the tradition of providing informal educational classes continues, more formal preschools have been established in many parts of the country due the rising demand for formal educational programs from parents.

Data from the Ministry of Education shows that this year, over 47,000 registered kindergartens are now operating in the country, many of which are run by private organizations. This figure does not include playgroups and unregistered kindergartens.

Many preschools are established and run by religious organizations, institutions and foundations, and many others by individuals or foundations that have no connection with organized religion.

Aisyiah Bustanul Athfal, Al Hidayah, Al-Azhar, Kartika, Tarakanita, Mutiara and Penabur Benih -- to name but a few -- are established kindergartens that apply the Indonesian curriculum and have opened many branches across the country.

Aisyiah Bustanul Athfal (ABA) kindergarten, one of the long established ones, was founded by Aisyiah, a women's branch of Muhammadyah, in Yogjakarta in 1919.

ABA kindergartens can be found in almost every province in the country thanks to the organization's policy that obliges every branch office of Aisyiah to set up a kindergarten. To date, the ABA kindergarten organization has over 5,300 kindergartens spread throughout the country.

The ABA kindergartens emphasize the importance of implanting Islamic teachings in children at an early age. "Concretely, children are taught how to perform the basic components of shalat (five obligatory daily prayers), and how to conduct wudhu (ritual ablutions before prayers)," said Asni Jafar, deputy head of Aisyiah's educational division.

The growing awareness among parents about the need to cultivate Islamic teachings in children at an early age has also contributed to the popularity of Aisyiah playgroups and kindergartens.

Apart from implanting Islamic teachings, the schools also provide lessons based on the national curriculum set by the Ministry of Education.

"The curriculum is designed based on what children need. In addition to their physiques, children at an early age need to develop their intellects, language skills, social skills, emotions and other psychological aspects," she said.

The ABA kindergartens are not only targeted at the lower and middle-income brackets, but also at the upper-income brackets. Enrollment fees vary, depending on location.

Enrollment fees in certain areas like Kebayoran Baru are set at between Rp 3 million and Rp 4 million (about US$425), with school fees of Rp 150,000 per month. The school fees in poor areas like Taman Sari, Kota, Central Jakarta, are set at between Rp 300,000 and Rp 500,000.

Children from poor families are exempted from paying school fees provided that their parents submit a letter explaining their economic circumstances, she said.

Like Aisyiah, Al-Azhar Kindergartens emphasize the importance of inculcating Islamic teachings in children at an early age. A kindergarten using the name Al Azhar was first founded by the Yayasan Pesantren Islam Al-Azhar at the Al-Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta in 1968.

"The Al-Azhar kindergarten organization started to grow in the 1980s. At least 30 Al-Azhar kindergartens are now operating in many different areas of Indonesia," said a staffer at the Yayasan Pesantren Islam Al-Azhar.

Besides Jakarta, Al-Azhar kindergartens can also be found in other provinces, such as West Java, East Java and West Kalimantan.

Al-Azhar kindergartens, which are known for offering modern facilities, have enrollment fees of between Rp 9 million and Rp 10 million.

The Al-Azhar kindergarten in Jakarta and its branches are managed by the Yayasan Pesantren Islam Al-Azhar. There are, however, other kindergartens that use the name Al-Azhar that are managed jointly with other foundations as partners.

Despite the involvement of other parties in running its schools, Al-Azhar Central Office is fully in charge of the educational aspects, such as the provision of teachers and curricula.

"The other parties involved usually provide the sites for the schools and support facilities, such as chairs, tables whiteboards and children's playground equipment," he said.

Many other preschools have been founded by individuals that have an interest in the development of children. Among them are the preschools founded by Seto Mulyadi, an educator, scientist and psychologist, who is familiarly known as Kak Seto.

Kak Seto's preschools are operated under the umbrella of the Mutiara Foundation and the Mentari Foundation.

Children at Kak Seto's preschools do not only play while learning, but also get to learn about some initial aspects of Indonesian culture at an early age.

The preschools managed by the foundations also provide a variety of traditional Indonesian games, such as ular tangga (snakes and ladders).

The games are designed not only to stimulate children's creativity but also make them emotionally and spiritually better, according to Kak Seto.

The preschools operating under the umbrella of the Mutiara Foundation and the Mentari Foundation date back to 1975 when Kak Seto established a play group called Istana Anak-Anak (the Children's Palace) in Taman Ria Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Currently, the two foundations run nearly 30 playgroups and kindergartens, most of which are in Greater Jakarta and areas outside of Jakarta, including Cirebon and Bandung in West Java, East Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.

In addition to such national-based preschools, the number of preschools offering international curricula is also increasing in the country's major cities.