MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Muhammadiyah has a long-standing history of providing quality education. Even before the country gained independence, Muhammadiyah had established schools in areas where government-funded education was scarce.
This rich legacy, however, also presents significant challenges, as highlighted by Didik Suhardi, Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Council for Elementary, Secondary, and Non-formal Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) on Saturday, August 31.
The results of the 48th Muhammadiyah Congress (Muktamar) have challenged the Council to expand and improve quality Muhammadiyah schools.
This means that Muhammadiyah schools should undergo a transformation while staying true to their core values.
Historically, Muhammadiyah schools have focused on providing education to underserved communities with limited access to education. However, Didik argued that the organization must now broaden its reach to include students from middle and upper-class families.
“Muhammadiyah education has the capacity to accommodate and serve the middle and upper-class Muslim generations who now have the financial means to send their children to expensive schools. We don’t need to be as expensive, but we should ensure our teachers are well-compensated,” Didik explained.
To achieve this transformation, Didik urged Muhammadiyah schools to adhere to the organization’s founding principles: action, knowledge, renewal, and progress. These principles, established by Ahmad Dahlan, provide a solid foundation for building and developing high-quality schools that are attractive to the public.
