Constructing New Stages of Education for Muslim Children: Impacts of the Dissemination of the Iqro’ Method Textbook on Islamic Education in Indonesia and Malaysia

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The dissemination of the Iqro’ method textbook through Qur’anic kindergartens and Qur’anic schools in Indonesia has encouraged the public’s interest in reconsidering teaching methods and the skill of reading and reciting the Qur’an. Moreover, it has provided a chance to reconsider pre-school education for Muslims in Indonesia from the grass-roots level. In Malaysia, both the elementary schools under the Ministry of Education and private schools are also recommended to use Iqro’ method. However, there are several private organizations in Malaysia that have attempted to maintain their originality by using alternatives to Iqro’, such as Qira’ati and Al-Barqy from Indonesia, and by trying to develop original educational services. This paper tries to explore the dissemination of the Iqro’ method textbook in which it has been revitalized and enriched educational services for Muslims in both Indonesia and Malaysia, by both the government sector and grass-roots efforts across the border. KEY WORDS: the Iqro’ method textbook, Qur’anic kindergartens and Qur’anic schools, and Muslims in both Indonesia and Malaysia. About the Author: D r. Yuki Nakata is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law TU (Toyo University), 5-28-20, Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8606, Japan. She has been conducting the research on Islamic education in Indonesia and Malaysia. For academic purposes, she can be reached at: yuki.nakata@tuba.ocn.ne.jp or nakatayuki9@gmail.com How to cite this article? Nakata, Yuki. (2009). “Constructing New Stages of Education for Muslim Children: Impacts of the Dissemination of the Iqro’ Method Textbook on Islamic Education in Indonesia and Malaysia” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies , Vol.2(1) August, pp.25-34. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI in Bandung, West Java; and FKIP UMP in Purwokerto, Central Java, ISSN 1979-7877. Chronicle of the article: Accepted (June 23, 2009); Revised (July 25, 2009); and Published (August 17, 2009).