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.