Quality control program for 'madrasah'

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."