First established in 2019 as a Quranic school (TPQ), Albata moved to introduce the Albata Islamic Montessori School in Surabaya, East Java, in 2021, with the distinction of being the first Islamic Montessori Kindergarten in the city.

Located in the West Surabaya area, Albata Islamic Montessori School provides a Montessori-based approach to education that is integrated with Islamic values. Currently, the kindergarten is only available in Surabaya, with plans underway for a future branch in Jakarta.

Head of Albata Islamic Montessori Kindergarten Surabaya, ustadzah (female Islamic teacher) Mayasari Khuluki, said Albata was founded to answer the needs of parents who seek the best quality Islamic education for their children so as to nurture a pious and independent generation through a comprehensive yet fun learning approach with the Montessori method.

"The Montessori method is an educational approach developed by Maria Montessori. Montessori education emphasizes direct learning, experience and a child-centric approach, and its classrooms are equipped with various materials and activities designed to stimulate the senses and encourage them to explore," she explained.

Albata offers both formal and non-formal classes. Formal education is offered through their kindergarten and is aimed at children aged 3 to 6 years, while their non-formal education is offered through online and offline toddler classes meant for pre-school children aged at least 1 year as well as TPQ classes for children aged 3 to 13 years.

For offline toddler classes, Albata offers several locations spread across Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Surabaya, Bandung and Sidoarjo. Moreover, they also provide private or home visit services for both Toddler classes and TPQ programs.

Meanwhile, both toddler and TPQ online classes have been attended by thousands of students from various cities in Indonesia, even abroad. Now, more than 16 countries such as Denmark. With a minimum of 19,652 registered students as of June 2024, which is still rising.

"Albata Islamic Kindergarten itself currently has dozens of students. Meanwhile, online and offline toddler and TPQ classes throughout Indonesia and abroad have been registered by more than 19,000 students," said Mayasari, adding that Albata had received international recognition for its collaboration with the Indonesian Muslim Association in Denmark as one of its partners for teaching children abroad. Moreover, the TPQ has students scattered across other countries, spreading its teaching in Spain, The US, New Zealand, Japan, and Qatar to name a few.

Along with the Montessori method of teaching, all Albata curriculum globally focuses on tauhid (monotheism), adab (etiquette), fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), sirah (early history of Islam), tahsin (fluency) and tahfidz (pronunciation).

Albata Islamic Kindergarten programs include My Morning Habit, which involves wudhu (ablution), dhuha morning prayer and memorizing daily prayers; I Love Al Quran to memorize and understand Quran juz (part) 30 and reciting the Quran using the ummi/tilawati method; I Can Speak to develop English and Arabic language skills; horse-riding and swimming extracurricular activities; tahsin Quran classes for parents as well as field trips.

Material based on the Quran and sunnah (voluntary acts of worship) form the basis, values ​​and philosophy of Albata, allowing its students to learn based on clear and credible scientific sources. Just like any kindergarten , Albata Kindergarten opens registration at the start of a new school year. However, for their informal programs such as Toddler and TPQ classes, they are opened every month and are always attended by enthusiastic parents who register their children.

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