MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, BANDUNG – Chairman of Muhammadiyah Irwan Akib mentioned that integration of Western colonial education and traditional Islamic education is K.H. Ahmad Dahlan’s means of preparing generations for the changing era.
Professor of Mathematics said that, although dichotomy in science doesn’t exist, in the early period of Kiai Dahlan initiating an educational institution, the dichotomy existed in Indonesia.
“The educational institution was in two different poles, a traditional Islamic school focusing on religious teaching only and colonial school founded by the Dutch,” said Irwan Akib at the Gerakan Subuh Mengaji of ‘Aisyiyah of West Java on Sunday (22/1).
Thus, the educational institution in Kauman, Yogyakarta, established by Kiai Dahlan became a pioneer of modern Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia whose curriculum integrated the Western colonial educational system and traditional Islamic boarding school.
According to Irwan Arkib, the educational system in Indonesia nowadays refers to the notion by Kiai Dahlan a century ago. Indeed, the system is followed by religious-based and public schools.
Ahmad Dahlan is an Islamic scholar whose thoughts are beyond what other people thought in that era. Integrating religious studies and common knowledge is the key to a modern notion.
Furthermore, Irwan Arkib contended that, in education, children should be seen wholly or from cognitive, affective, and psychometric aspects.
Therefore, Indonesian education should produce human beings who are solid in their faith, intellectually superior, graceful in their morals, and swift in their work.
