Madrassa to face barriers in education quality

Jakarta, NU Online
The director of the Madrassa Education of the Religious Affairs Department Firdaus Basyuni said various berriers having so far been faced by madrassa (Islamic schools) were education quality, saying many people had remained considering madrassa as the second class educational institutions if compared to general education schools.

Firdaus made the remarks as opening the Leadership Training for Madrassa Managers held by the Religious Affairs Department in collaboration with the Ma'arif Educational Institution of NU at the Wisma Syahida, State Islamic University Jakarta on Tuesday (17/3).<>

Firdaus explained most of the managements of madrassa were conducted by private parties which pay no attention to the principles of management and quality and are much more concerned about their social approaches.

Firdaus said the image of madrassa as the second-level educational institutions was inseparable from the weaknesses of the madrassa managers that have positioned madrassa at a low level.

He gave an example as there was a process of accreditation, the madrassa managers often asked the accrediting team not to treat their madrassa equally with general schools.

Firdaus said before the Law No 20/2003 on National Education System was passed, Madrassa had not yet received the same treatment as schools in general because funds prepared to madrassa were in the time mostly from the budget allocated for religious sectors.

He further explained that another weakness facing madrassa was quality of teachers, saying it was the most important, decisive factor in improving the quality of graduates.

"A research shows that the quality of graduates from madrassa is approximately 63 percent caused by the quality of teachers," he said, adding that it was not solely caused by the management and facilities of the madrassa.

He added about 54 percent of some 628 madrassa teachers across Indonesia had yet to fulfill the required qualifications. (mkf)