Students take Islamic course during holidays

Students take Islamic course during holidays

By Fitriyanti Djoni

JAKARTA (JP): Most teachers send students off on their annual
school holiday with a message that they spend their time wisely
and engage only in activities which are educational and
beneficial.

Parents, too, wish their children would engage in such
activities, which preferably would last up to the end of the
holiday. Most parents find that organizing activities to fill the
first several days of their children's holidays are trying
enough. "I wouldn't want to see my kids lounging around doing
nothing during the month-long holiday," one parent said.

President Soeharto announced last month the nationwide
campaign to promote religious studies in schools. He specifically
asked schools to hold short courses on Islam, called Pesantren
Kilat.

Pesantren is the local term for Islamic boarding school,
whereas kilat means instant.

"The program is meant to complement the religious teaching
that students receive in schools," Soeharto said. In the current
national curriculum, students get 2.5 hours of religious teaching
a week. Some believe this is not enough.

"Given this limited time, it's fitting that the Pesantren
Kilat program is held during school holidays," he said. "Our
children will then be able to fill their holidays with religious
duties."

Soeharto also said that the courses would enrich students'
knowledge, and raise their awareness of religious duties which
would deepen their faith and encourage them to practice Islam in
daily life.

The program is designed for pupils of fifth and sixth grades
in elementary school, and students of junior and senior high
schools. Seven-day courses are being held at various schools
throughout the school holidays. Participation is voluntary.

The program is devised to not only teach youngsters about
Islam but also to instill a sense of togetherness. Students spend
the whole week together sleeping, eating, learning, reciting the
Koran and holding discussions.

A number of organizations, including private schools, have
already run Pesantren Kilat. This is the first time the concept
is being used at state schools and it has been met with
enthusiasm from parents and teachers, who have to sacrifice their
holidays as well. Even students have been enthusiastic.

One students, Lestari, said that the program may help control
student brawls.

Unfortunately, not all schools were ready to carry out the
program because announcements came at such short notice. The 68
Senior High School in Central Jakarta, for instance, received the
instruction to start the program on June 17 from the municipality
office of education on report day, June 15.

"To be honest, we were caught unprepared. But we managed well,
after all, even though there were a few shortcomings here and
there," explained principal Rafli Surli.

Despite the interest of many students, only 50 of them were
picked to join the program. Held in the school's auditorium,
female and male students were grouped separately for instruction
on aqidah (the basic concepts of Islamic teaching), ahlaq (good
conduct) and iman (faith).

The program in this school, in which each participating
student paid Rp 20,000 (US$8.50) for meals, concluded on June 26.

"The fee is hardly sufficient, so the school was subsidizing
the program too. Let's hope we can do better next year," the
principal said.

At this particular school students did not have to stay the
night and so they were able to enjoy their nights at home with
family and friends.

At the No 03 Elementary School in Rawasari, Central Jakarta,
however, the students slept at the school for the seven nights of
the program. Some participants said "it's like camping out, only
in school," because they had to take along their own plates,
crockery, mattresses and change of clothing.

Each paid Rp 2,000. "The money provides students with
nutritious meals three times a day," explained Idi Rosyidi, the
school's Pesantren Kilat program organizer.

Teachers

Who gives religious instruction? As it turns out the teachers
do, meaning that they have to work during the school holidays. So
far, there have not been any complaints. Some teachers feel
challenged by the additional tasks.

"We need to do this program in a way which is not boring for
the students," said a teacher.

"Students usually laze about at dawn prayers. They cannot do
that here. They have to pray at the right times," Idi said,
adding that there is now more time to pay attention to individual
students.

"They will earn praise for things such as table manners, or
whether they wear the proper Islamic dresses, or for holding
polite conversation," according to Idi Rosyidi.

A student, Aulia Rachman, said he was pleased with the
program. "I got new friends, new teachers too. There wasn't a
dull moment, because the teachers were full of humor," he said.

However, Aulia missed his parents, younger brothers and
sisters. "Fortunately, my parents can visit me for an hour on
certain days," he said.

Sometimes, Aulia said, he also missed his favorite films on TV
and his Sega and Nintendo games; not for long, however, because
the tight schedule of the program occupied his time well.

Parents were also happy with the program. "We really want to
see our children get more and better religious instruction," one
parent said.

"I'm really happy. To be honest, I have very little knowledge
about my own religion," Mrs. Lela, a mother of one of the
participants, said.

"Children today need to know more about religion so that they
can be better equipped to meet challenges in the future," she
said.

She also believed the religious program will help bolster the
children's immunity against the "bad influence" of television.

"There's too much violence on television nowadays," she said.
"But if children have adequate knowledge of their religion,
they'll know of what's right and wrong in things that they see."

"I hope my son will come home from the Pesantren Kilat program
with a greater interest in religion and will practice Islamic
teaching more diligently," she said.