I

refer to the Readers’ Forum in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 14 regarding the question: “is there any room for Arabic in the classroom?”

I agree with the writer’s suggestion and strongly endorse the incorporation of Arabic language into the school curriculum. Arabic is the language of Islam and the Hadiths and as Iries Kusnanda wrote, the majority of Indonesians are Muslim, and through the language of Islam they can tap and add to the richness and wide knowledge in the holy Koran. Moreover, Arabic is a recognized international language by the United Nations, and is the official language of more than 20 countries in Asia and Africa.

Indonesia has all necessary ingredients to emerge as a moderate leading Muslim country for the rebirth and spread of Islam and its associated language.

In view of the importance of Islam and its heavenly and sacred language, I would like to present the following proposals for consideration by those concerned:

(a) Arabic language must gradually become a fundamental subject at all levels of the education system from the primary school to the high secondary school levels.

(b) After some time, Arabic should constitute an important part of university curriculum.

(c) Understanding and memorizing some chapters of the Koran should become a must for graduation and a basis for further studies in any field, particularly science.

M. Elrasheed
 Jakarta