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Islamic subjects in schools fail to touch on tolerance, unity
Teachers of Islamic subjects are failing to imbue their students with the values of tolerance and unity, as most of the material delivered in classes merely focuses on rituals and theology, a study has concluded.
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Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo delivers remarks during a prayer gathering at the National Monument square in Jakarta on Friday. (Antara/Angga Pratama)
T
eachers of Islamic subjects are failing to imbue their students with the values of tolerance and unity, as most of the material delivered in classes merely focuses on rituals and theology, a study has concluded.
The study, released by the Analytical and Capacity Development Partnership (ACDP) Indonesia, a think tank within the Culture and Education and the Religious Affairs ministries funded by the EU, the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade discovered that democracy, pluralism and human rights, are not being taught in Islamic subjects in classes.
"Apparently, the curriculum in Islamic subjects never includes how to respect other religions, hence teachers only remind their students about sin [according to Islamic values]," ACDP consultant Muljani Nurhadi said at the Religious Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.
Director general for Islamic education at the Religious Affairs Ministry Kamaruddin Amin said that if the issue was not addressed properly, it could lead to extremism and radicalism.
"One of the functions of Islamic teaching in schools is the maintenance and preservation of moderate Islam," Kamaruddin said.
The study questioned 229 respondents comprising students, teachers and headmasters in 24 schools in four cities namely Jakarta; Medan, North Sumatra; Surakarta, Central Java; and Manado, North Sulawesi.(fac/dmr)
