News
W. Sumatra law on Koran skills to be put into effect in 2008
NU Online · Jumat, 9 Februari 2007 | 06:23 WIB
Padang, NU Online
A provincial ordinance on Koran literacy passed by the West Sumatra legislature earlier this week will go into effect in 2008, a legislator told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The ordinance stipulates that students from elementary through high school, as well as couples who wish to get married, must be able to read and write passages from the Koran.<>
Guspardi Gaus, who chaired the special legislative committee that developed the ordinance, said a number of gubernatorial decrees would be necessary to implement the regulation, along with changes to school curricula and syllabi.
"Since decrees regulate the education sector, all costs, including the cost of public information campaigns, will be taken from the 2008 education budget. That is viable since a substantial amount, 20 percent, derives from the provincial budget," said Guspardi.
Guspardi added that the provincial bylaw acted only as a legal umbrella for cities and regencies in West Sumatra, and he believed every city and regency would implement the bylaw within the next two years.
"The Mentawai Islands regency is excluded due to the majority of non-Muslims there, but if the people want it, there's no problem," he said.
Seven out of 19 cities and regencies in West Sumatra have already issued similar regulations. Some regencies also require students to perform prayers in school.
Guspardi said such requirements were not a problem.
He said the proposal for the Koranic education ordinance came from the provincial legislature's Commission IV on education affairs. Political parties represented on the commission include the National Mandate Party, United Development Party, Prosperous Justice Party, Golkar Party, Crescent Star Party and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.
"The ordinance was also implemented in response to pressure from the governor, legislators and community figures in the cities and regencies we visited," said Guspardi.
Before approving the ordinance, he said, committee members discussed the issue with figures from higher learning institutes, religious and social organizations.
"We intentionally invited figures from higher learning institutes and Muslim organizations due to their relevance to the matter," said Guspardi.
Guspardi shrugged off the perception that the ordinance would have negative impacts on non-Muslims.
"Islam is merciful. The more religious one is, the more beneficial he or she will be to others, including followers of other faiths. So it's not a threat, because Islam teaches people to do good amongst themselves. Koranic education is aimed at giving people, especially the younger generation, good morals, so they won't be lured by drugs and other negative activities," said Guspardi. (dar)
A provincial ordinance on Koran literacy passed by the West Sumatra legislature earlier this week will go into effect in 2008, a legislator told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The ordinance stipulates that students from elementary through high school, as well as couples who wish to get married, must be able to read and write passages from the Koran.<>
Guspardi Gaus, who chaired the special legislative committee that developed the ordinance, said a number of gubernatorial decrees would be necessary to implement the regulation, along with changes to school curricula and syllabi.
"Since decrees regulate the education sector, all costs, including the cost of public information campaigns, will be taken from the 2008 education budget. That is viable since a substantial amount, 20 percent, derives from the provincial budget," said Guspardi.
Guspardi added that the provincial bylaw acted only as a legal umbrella for cities and regencies in West Sumatra, and he believed every city and regency would implement the bylaw within the next two years.
"The Mentawai Islands regency is excluded due to the majority of non-Muslims there, but if the people want it, there's no problem," he said.
Seven out of 19 cities and regencies in West Sumatra have already issued similar regulations. Some regencies also require students to perform prayers in school.
Guspardi said such requirements were not a problem.
He said the proposal for the Koranic education ordinance came from the provincial legislature's Commission IV on education affairs. Political parties represented on the commission include the National Mandate Party, United Development Party, Prosperous Justice Party, Golkar Party, Crescent Star Party and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.
"The ordinance was also implemented in response to pressure from the governor, legislators and community figures in the cities and regencies we visited," said Guspardi.
Before approving the ordinance, he said, committee members discussed the issue with figures from higher learning institutes, religious and social organizations.
"We intentionally invited figures from higher learning institutes and Muslim organizations due to their relevance to the matter," said Guspardi.
Guspardi shrugged off the perception that the ordinance would have negative impacts on non-Muslims.
"Islam is merciful. The more religious one is, the more beneficial he or she will be to others, including followers of other faiths. So it's not a threat, because Islam teaches people to do good amongst themselves. Koranic education is aimed at giving people, especially the younger generation, good morals, so they won't be lured by drugs and other negative activities," said Guspardi. (dar)
Terpopuler
1
Mulai Agustus, PBNU dan BGN Realisasikan Program MBG di Pesantren
2
Mendaki Puncak Jabal Nur, Napak Tilas Kanjeng Nabi di Gua Hira
3
40 Hari Wafat Gus Alam, KH Said Aqil Siroj: Pesantren Harus Tetap Hidup!
4
Waktu Terbaik untuk Resepsi Pernikahan menurut Islam
5
Zaman Kegaduhan, Rais Aam PBNU Ingatkan Umat Islam Ikuti Ulama yang Istiqamah
6
Terima Dubes Afghanistan, PBNU Siap Beri Beasiswa bagi Mahasiswa yang Ingin Studi di Indonesia
Terkini
Lihat Semua
