Modernization of Indonesian Islamic schools’ curricula, 1945–2003

Abstract

As the most populous Muslim country in the world, Indonesia has a unique experience in dealing with Islamic education, a system that was established years before the country’s independence. This paper summarizes the development of Indonesian Islamic schools with special reference to their changing curricula. Using the social constructionist perspective as an approach, this research is trying to see the significance of political and social changes to the development of Islamic schools’ curricula throughout the country’s history.

Notes

1. ‘New Order’ government refers to Suharto’s long‐run leadership to distinguish it with the previous leadership, which is called the Old Order. The New Order era started in 1967 when Suharto took over the presidential position from Sukarno and ended in 1998 when Suharto handed over the presidential position to B. J. Habibie.

2. Some Muslim scholars (including then former president Abdurrahman Wahid) refused to join this organization as they believed that such an organization would only promote sectarianism among the religious people, which is absolutely dangerous for a multi‐religions state such as Indonesia.