Selasa 07 Feb 2012 00:20 WIB

AusAID: Madrasahs as alternative education for the poor

Rep: Nashih Nashrullah/Satya Festiani/ Red: Yeyen Rostiyani
Madrasah students pray in Madiun, East Java, last weekend. Accreditation is needed to improve the quality of the Islamic schools.
Foto: Siswowidodo
Madrasah students pray in Madiun, East Java, last weekend. Accreditation is needed to improve the quality of the Islamic schools.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Madrasahs attracts Australia to offers its aids. Jennifer Donohoe from Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), said, AusAID helps madrasah reaching its standard in national education. The fund in the amount of 47 million dollar AUS is directed to 1.500 madrasah.

“As Islamic school, madrasah is the most important point in education system in Indonesia,” Donohoe said recently. Madrasah, she said, gives the alternative education for the poor.

Unlike other educational institutions overseen by the ministry of education and culture, madrasahs are overseen by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The institutions teach their students not only on religious subjects but also regular subjects. 

The Ministry of Religious Affairs reiterates its determination to finish all madrasahs accreditation process 2014. Accreditation process aims at improving the quality of madrasahs –or Islamic schools. The Director of Madrasah in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dedi Djubaedi, said, accreditation consists of eight keypoints, such as the standard curriculum, teacher, facilities, and infrastructures.

“This is our effort to improve the quality of madrasahs,” he said. Yet, he admitted that lacking of human resources is the main obstacle to improve the quality. The ministry finds some madrasahs are not ready for accreditation process. 

Albeit, Djubaedi believes the accreditation will be done by 2014. In 2011, the government provides financial aid intended to help madrasahs improve their quality. The aid is offered to 7,500 madrasah consists of 3,500 madrasah ibtidaiah or MI (elementary school -ed), 2,500 madrasah tsanawiyah or MTs (junior high school –ed), and 1,500 madrasah aliyah or MA (senior high school -ed). Each madrasah gets 10 million IDR.

The chairman of Islamic Education Renewal Movement (GUPPI), Imam Tholkhah, said, the accreditation should be given immediately to measure the quality of their teaching and learning. “Only the best ones will be maintained,” he said.

 

 

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