The role of pesantren in the development of primary education in Indonesia

Abstract

Pesantrens are special Indonesian Islamic educational institutions. Having developed as a modern Islamic institutions, pesantren, which in the past confined their roles tothe teaching of religious knowledge, adopt both Western and national education systems and thereby actively support the compulsory education program started in 1984. There was a dualism in the national education system prior to 1989. Modern public educational institutions, which adopt Western education in science and technology, were under the authority of the Ministry of Education and Culture (DEPDIKBUD). Meanwhile, religious educational institutions, including pesantren, were administered by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (DEPAG). The government has long attempted to solve this dualism. From early on the government has recognized that pesantren has played a positive role in enhancing both the spiritual and intellectual life of the nation. Before the independence of Indonesia pesatren has adopted some modern educational features: application of formal-classical method, providing woman with opportunities to receive education and teaching secular knowledge. However, because of some pesantrens' weaknesses, the government still needs to develop these processes. The government established madrasah soon after Independence and adopted its system into the pesantren. In order to pursue the process of modernization of the pesantren, the government issued a joint decision in March 1975, which included placing DEPDIKBUD in charge of providing teachers of secular knowledge for madrasah.