Between Tradition and Change, Moderation and Extremism

Abstract

The rapid democratisation that followed the fall of Soeharto's repressive ‘New Order’ in 1998 allowed a public expression of Islamic identity in ways unimaginable just a few years earlier. The so-called ‘Islamic revival’ that ensued led to rising religious intolerance and popular calls for greater recognition of shari'a (Islamic law). However, although Indonesia certainly has some radical Islamist schools, most Islamic educational institutions, like those who teach and work in them, are not supporters of extreme Islamist ideas or even conservative religious intolerance. In fact, many make significant efforts to counter these ideas and promote religious pluralism. However, religious extremism and intolerance are not the only challenges faced by Islamic educators in Indonesia today, from pesantrens and madrasahs to universities. Inadequate government support for the sector is a longstanding problem. Moreover, most also struggle to meet the changing educational expectations of modern society, particularly pressure to produce graduates who can build careers in an increasingly competitive employment market that generally has a low opinion of religious qualifications. Recent educational reforms, particularly new curricula that seek to integrate religious education with non-religious studies, have been revolutionary but still have a long way to go.