Quality control program for 'madrasah'

Maya Dahlan, Contributor, Jakarta

Renowned educator Arief Rahman has suggested that the government and operators of 35,000 madrasah (Islamic school) in the country apply a "quality control program", namely tightening up selection procedures, improving management and striving for better scholastic achievements.

"Let the children have the widest opportunity to explore their talents, creativity and other positive qualities," he said in a recent interview.

Commenting about the meager education budget provided by the government, Arief said: "Money is not everything. I am sure that determination and hard work of all parties involved in the campaign would eventually help improve the quality of those Islamic schools."

What concerns some educators is the possibility that a poor image of the madrasah affects the self-esteem of the students and their motivation to achieve.

Purwitaningsih, a psychologist affiliated to the Kita dan Buah Hati Foundation, said the key to healthy confidence lay in the hands of the parents at home. A child is said to have good self- esteem when he or she understands their strength and weaknesses thus rendering a relatively accurate self-image.

A child develops a negative self-image when parents or significant others label them with limitations -- a well-spread practice in Indonesian communities, she said.

"Notice how easy it is for parents and teachers to admonish children when they are not that generous with praises?" she said. "Comments such as 'silly', 'stupid' erode the child's self- esteem. Rarely, however, parents take the time to praise a deed well done by the child."

"Praise is a vital ingredient for a child's healthy confidence," she said in a recent interview. She suggested that parents limit their tendency to place blame whenever a child made mistake, and to label. Instead, she suggested that parents be more generous with praise and appreciation when a child tried to do something new or different.

"Notice how the flag-hoisting ceremony on Monday in school is usually filled with the principal or teacher calling attention to the students' shortcomings?" she said, adding that it was true both in general school and Islamic schools.

"This practice has got to stop. This ceremony has to be developed into a session where teachers give students encouragement for the week ahead of them."

Purwita also suggested that every madrasah find and develop its uniqueness and strengths in order to develop into a better school.

"One school, for instance, could develop itself into a center of young hafidz (those who know the Koran by heart)," she said. "Madrasah, above all, should really reflect the true Islamic values."