`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.