`Pesantren' begin to modernize education system

`Pesantren' begin to modernize education system

By Riyadi

WONOSOBO, Central Java (JP): Islamic boarding schools, locally
known as pesantren, are being compelled to review their current
educational system, as Indonesia is shifting from an agricultural
culture to an industrial nation.

A number of observers have expressed doubts that pesantren,
especially the traditional ones, will be able to survive in
modern times, as such institutions tend to be seclusive and to
reject outside influences.

However, some schools have been responsive enough to the
changes to adapt their educational system to society's demands
and to expand their educational services. Some have even opened
public schools in addition to their religious institutions.

Gontor Pesantren in East Java is one of them. It offers
vocational training and incorporates English as one of its main
subjects in addition to its religious instruction. As many
consider Gontor's reform successful, the school has become a
model.

A number of schools are now following Gontor's approach to
modernizing their educational and management systems.

Last Sunday, in the scenic village of Kalibeber in Wonosobo,
Central Java, leaders of almost 200 boarding schools in Java and
Madura gathered and formed the Association of Koran Pesantren
(HPA).

One of its principle targets is to establish schools that can
cope with Moslems' backwardness in science and technology.

In coordination with the Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI), the new association will establish
vocational pesantren in a number of provinces.

After the signing of an agreement between HPA and ICMI, Ali
Mustafa Trajutisna of the Center for Society Participation said
HPA will establish seven vocational boarding schools this year.

"This is the first step. Next year, our target is to set up
200 schools, and the following year will be 1000 schools," Ali
said.

The creation of the vocational boarding schools is also being
supported by the Yudhistira book publishing company, which has
committed to providing all educational books for the students.

Support

Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, who
signed the agreement on behalf of ICMI, hailed the Islamic
institution's latest move in education.

"Industrialization requires skills. So, I fully support the
creation of such schools to create more skilled workers,"
Wardiman said.

In his speech to hundreds of Moslem scholars, or kyai,
Wardiman stressed that the Islamic boarding schools have long
played a pivotal role in the development of the nation. As
recognized by many, Wardiman said, the institutions' roles can be
traced back during the struggle for independence.

Acknowledging the institutions' resilience in combating past
political colonialism, Wardiman asked them to be more aware of
the newest form of colonialism, the colonialism of science and
technology.

Wardiman noted that the era of global competition, as the
result of globalization, has forced Indonesia to produce a more
and more qualified work force because it is the "most effective
way" to compete for our future.

Qualified workers, according to Wardiman, are those who have
competency in science and technology as well as strong beliefs in
God.

He acknowledged that Islamic boarding schools have a superior
ability to produce a work force that has strong beliefs in God
and is resilient in life, as the ultimate objective of every
school's education is to instill Islamic values into each of its
students.

"Therefore, what the pesantren have done so far is on the
right track. But surely these institutions needs more science and
technology. In cooperation with the Ministry of Religious
Affairs, we will extend educational assistance," Wardiman said.

Interest

He hinted that part of the assistance from his ministry for
the vocational boarding schools will be in the form of
cooperation between these schools and state universities or
institutes.

"In this case, we will give them our expertise as we cannot
help them build their buildings, our funds are so limited,"
Wardiman said.

The Teacher Training and Education Institute (IKIP) Yogyakarta
has set an example. It has forged cooperation with one boarding
school in Sleman, Yogyakarta, to prepare for the establishment of
a vocational boarding school there.

Rector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University Muladi has
also expressed his interest in such a cooperation, saying, in the
long run, it would create religious intellectuals as well as
qualified workers.

The cooperation between the Islamic boarding schools and
universities would benefit both sides. By such cooperation,
lectures and students of universities would not be mislead into
becoming an exclusive group. While for the boarding schools, the
cooperation itself means the improvement of the institution of
both its education and management system.

Some experts say the management of the Islamic boarding
schools, especially the traditional ones, is still far from good,
and must be a priority when improving the quality of pesantren.

The efforts at improving the Islamic institutions are becoming
more important, especially in light of the government's new nine-
year compulsory education program.

However, as once stated by noted Moslem scholar Ali Yafie, the
Islamic boarding schools can carry out improvement only as long
as they are not uprooted from the tradition of creating religious
scholars.