An evaluation of the sumur program implementation from the naqib’s perspective

Abstract

The Sahsiah Unggul Murid (SUMUR) (Virtuous Student Character) program was recently introduced in all Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) (National Religious Secondary Schools) and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) (Government Aided Religious Schools) in Malaysia in the year 2010. This program has been implemented through usrah (mentoring group) with each group being headed by a naqib (student mentor). Nevertheless, the credibility of the student mentors themselves is a matter of discussion. There were student mentors who did not use an interesting style of delivery, lack closeness with usrah members, are too soft-spoken to be effectively heard and tardy for the program. The driving force for the implementation of this SUMUR program are the student mentors who are constantly close to students in the respective usrah groups. The objective of this study is to explore the role of the naqib in the implementation of this program, in addition to examining the naqib’s function in the building of the student character. The Stake Responsive Evaluation Model was used adopting a qualitative method through interviews which focused on five nuqaba’ (plural for naqib; male student mentor) and naqibat (plural for naqibah; female student mentor) at the SMKA Sheikh Haji Mohd Said in the State of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Study findings argue that the naqib plays the role of an agent who invites to righteousness, prevents vice and strengthens the ties of brotherhood among usrah members; all of which in turn enhance the credibility of a naqib. Hence, training for the naqib needs to be enhanced from time to time in ensuring that the SUMUR program achieves the objectives set by the Islamic Education Division of the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MoE). In conclusion, the SUMUR program introduced has run smoothly in this school and has the advantages of enhancing student character, moving them closer to Allah (S.W.T.), training them for leadership, and bridging ukhuwwah (brotherhood or sisterhood). The naqib was found to play an important role in helping to implement the SUMUR program and building student character. It is suggested that there is a need for a more comprehensive study encompassing the views of school administrators and murabbi (guide teachers) on the running of this SUMUR program at the national level to ensure that program stays on the right track.