EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – The Central Board of Muhammadiyah and the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi are exploring the possibility of establishing a school for the Indonesian community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The proposal emerged during a meeting on Friday (16/10) between the Muhammadiyah Central Board and Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE Judha Nugraha at the Central Board’s office in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
During the meeting, Judha conveyed the Indonesian community’s need for an Indonesian school in the UAE. He said the proposed school could meet the educational needs of Indonesian citizens. In addition to it, this initiative could be a way of strengthening bilateral relations through educational and cultural cooperation.
“During our town hall meetings, Indonesians in the UAE expressed the need for an Indonesian school. The idea is proposed as the number of Indonesian citizens living there continues to grow,” Judha said.
He explained that around 91,000 Indonesians live across the UAE’s seven emirates. Further studies are therefore needed to determine a suitable location, education system, and curriculum for the proposed school.
Muhammadiyah Emphasizes Sustainable School Planning
Responding to the proposal, Muhammadiyah Central Board Treasurer General Hilman Latief welcomed the initiative. He said Muhammadiyah was open to exploring the opportunity further while taking into account community needs and its operational capacity.
Hilman emphasized the importance of careful planning to ensure the school could operate sustainably and meet the community’s long-term needs.
“We must avoid establishing a school only for it to struggle with low enrollment because its target student population is too limited,” Hilman said.
He also highlighted the importance of learning from Indonesian schools operating in other countries, including Muhammadiyah schools in Australia. Such experience could provide valuable lessons in developing educational standards, teacher qualifications, and school governance.
According to Hilman, the school’s basic concept must first be formulated by considering the needs of Indonesians in the UAE. It is also necessary to consider the education regulations in force in the country.
The meeting marks an initial step by the Muhammadiyah Central Board and the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi toward exploring the establishment of a school for the Indonesian community in the UAE. Further studies are needed to refine the educational concept, assess operational readiness, and determine the forms of cooperation that could be developed. (taufik)
