The Role and Function of Islamic Boarding School: An Indonesian Context

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Islamic boarding school or “pesantren”, as one of the educational institutions, ha s recognized a big influence in developing the educational world , especially in Indonesian society . Islamic boarding school is also believed to be an alternative for solving various problems of education that occurs at this time. Islamic boarding school is the oldest institution of Islamic education in Indonesia. According to experts, the Islamic boarding school is able called a “ religi o us school ” when meet five requirements, namely: (1) “ kyai ” or Muslim religious teacher or leader in Java; (2) “pondok” or lodge ; (3) “mesjid” or mosque ; (4) “santri” or Islamic students ; and (5) “kitab kuning” or yellow book reading or Islamic classic book. This article tries to elaborate the role and function of Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, with related to the r eligious s chool of “ Darud Dakwah w al -I rsyad ” (DDI) Mangkoso Barru in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Islamic boarding school , as a community and an institution that is large in number and widely spread in various parts of the Indonesian country , ha s had much to share in the formation of the Indonesian people fully religious. Therefore, the institution has delivered many leaders in the past, present, and also in the future. The graduates of Islamic boarding school , no doubt, many of them have take n an active participation in nation building. But , on the other hand , there is also the notion that graduates of Islamic boarding school are hard invited forward. This is because the education system in the Islamic boarding school is mostly still traditional. KEY WORDS : Islamic boarding school , role and function, r eligious s chool , nation building , traditiona l education, and Indonesian society. About the Author: Dr. Mustain Thahir is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training UVRI (Veteran University of the Republic of Indonesia), Jalan Baruga Raya, Antang, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Corresponding author is aspensi@yahoo.com How to cite this article? Thahir, Mustain. (2014). “The Role and Function of Islamic Boarding School: An Indonesian Context” in TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies , Vol.5(2) April, pp.197-208. Bandung, Indonesia: ASPENSI [Asosiasi Sarjana Pendidikan Sejarah Indonesia] and UVRI [Universitas Veteran Republik Indonesia], ISSN 2085-0980. Chronicle of the article: Accepted (February 19, 2014); Revised (March 22, 2014); and Published (April 28, 2014).