The History of Islamic Education Development during the Colonial Era, Particularly under Dutch Colonial Rule
Kepeon.com-The History of Islamic Education
Development during the Colonial Era, Particularly under Dutch Colonial Rule-During
the colonial era, especially under Dutch colonization, the development of
Islamic education involved various educational systems. During this period,
Islamic education was also referred to as "bumiputera" because
it was primarily accessible to the indigenous people of Indonesia. There were
three main systems of Islamic education during the Dutch colonial period:
- The
Hindu-Islamic transitional education system: This system combined elements
of Hindu and Islamic education. Education was carried out using two
systems, namely the Keraton (palace) education system and the Pertapa
(hermitage) education system. In the Keraton system, teachers
visited their students, who predominantly came from the noble and palace
circles. On the other hand, the Pertapa system involved students visiting
their teachers at the hermitages. This system encompassed students from
various social backgrounds, including the common people.
- The
surau (langgar) education system: Surau is a term used in Southeast
Asia, particularly in regions such as South Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula,
and Patani (Thailand). Originally, surau were small buildings used for the
worship of ancestors in the Hindu-Buddhist tradition. However, with the
arrival of Islam in Minangkabau, Islamic education began through the
establishment of surau educational institutions by Syeikh Burhanudin. In
surau, young boys usually lived and studied. Surau educational
institutions did not adhere to formal bureaucratic structures like modern
educational institutions but instead focused on interpersonal
relationships among participants. The primary function of surau
institutions was socialization and cultural interaction, rather than
solely imparting knowledge.
- The
pesantren education system: There are two perspectives on the
origins of pesantren as Islamic educational institutions. The first
perspective suggests that pesantren originated from Islamic traditions,
while the second perspective argues that pesantren represents the
continuation of Hindu-Buddhist traditions that underwent an Islamization
process. Pesantren is the oldest Islamic educational institution in
Indonesia. The learning methods in pesantren include Sorogan
(individual service), Wetonan and Bandongan (collective services),
and Musyawarah (seminar or discussion).
Within the pesantren curriculum, the main
focus is on studying fikih (Islamic jurisprudence). However, other
subjects such as instrumental sciences, faith development, ethics, and Arabic
language are also emphasized. Arabic language instruction plays a crucial role
as a tool for understanding religious texts, as most fiqh
(jurisprudence) books are written in Arabic.