Availability and Accessibility of Islamic Religious Education Elementary School Students in Non-Muslim Base Areas, North Minahasa, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to (1) describe the position of Islamic Religious Education in the Indonesian National Education System, (2) reveal the condition of Islamic Religious Education (IRE) in North Minahasa, and (3) analyze the accessibility of IRE for Islamic students in non-Muslim elementary schools. A qualitative-descriptive method was used for this analysis, with primary data being obtained and identified through informants. Meanwhile, books, scientific journals, and other pieces of relevant literature were used as secondary data and analyzed inductively. The results showed that elementary schools did not pragmatically have Islamic Religious Education services although the rights of the Muslim students in obtaining them had been guaranteed by the Indonesian Government through the National Education System (NES) Law Number 20 of 2003. This led to the inaccessibility of the educational services, with the main factor being the insufficient number of Islamic students, as required by the NES. Despite the unfulfilled quota to obtain these services, government control as policymakers was still needed. This indicated that the ministry and the education office at the central and regional levels should have alternative solutions, respectively, without being negligent in resolving the problematic condition. Based on these results, the patterns by which the state failed in the equal availability and accessibility of religious education to Indonesian students were observed at all levels of state elementary schools under its regulation. These subsequently strengthened inequalities in this educational field while practicing religious discrimination based on accessibility. Additionally, the results suggest that the central and regional Indonesian governments, as well as other related agencies, need to be more proactive in providing religious education services to all institutional students. This leads to the availability of equality in obtaining education for all citizens, as mandated by law.