Minister Nadiem And Minister Of Religion Yaqut Make Sure Not To Delete The Madrasah Phrase In The National Education System Bill

Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim and Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/Screenshot

JAKARTA - The loss of the phrase madrasah in the draft National Education System Bill (RUU Sisdiknas) has drawn criticism from various parties. In particular, the DPR RI. Some factions even stated that they refused to discuss the revision of the National Education System Law if the phrase madrasa was removed. In response, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim and the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas ensured that the phrase madrasah remained in the revision of the National Education System Law. This was stated in their joint statement regarding the revised draft of the National Education System Law on Tuesday, March 29.

"From the beginning there was no desire or plan to remove madrasa schools or other forms of education units from the national education system. A thing that doesn't make sense and has never crossed our minds," said Nadiem, quoted on the official Instagram account of the Mendikbudristek @nadiemmakarim Wednesday, March 30.

Nadiem said both schools and madrasas remained substantially part of the educational pathways regulated in the body of the revision of the National Education System Law. However, he said, specific names such as SD and MI, SMP and MTS or SMA, SMK, and MA will be explained in the explanation section.

"The goal is that the naming of the form of an education unit is not tied at the level of the law so that it is much more flexible and dynamic," he said.

Nadiem said that until now the ministry he leads has always cooperated and coordinated closely with the Ministry of Religion regarding various efforts and programs to improve the quality of education in Indonesia. Namely by promoting the spirit of mutual cooperation and inclusiveness.

"We have also brought this spirit into the revision process of the National Education System Bill or the National Education System Bill," he said.

Nadiem explained four main points formulated in the National Education System Bill. First, education standards policies that accommodate regional diversity and innovation. Second, the compulsory education policy is complemented by a right-to-learn policy.

Third, the policy of structuring the teaching profession to be more inclusive and professional. Fourth, policies to increase the economy and improve higher education governance.

Meanwhile, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas confirmed that communication and coordination between the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Religion was closely intertwined. This has started since the beginning of the process of revising the National Education System Law until now.

"The National Education System Bill has given strong attention to the existence of Islamic boarding schools and madrasas. The nomenclature of madrasas and Islamic boarding schools is also included in the growing stem and the articles in the National Education System Bill," said Gus Yaqut on the same occasion.

Thus, Minister of Religion Yaqut also believes that by promoting independence and flexibility in the National Education System Bill, the quality of learning for all students in Indonesia will increase. "And the quality of our education system will improve in the future," he concluded. As is known, the issue of the revised draft of the National Education System Law leaked and did not have the phrase madrasah when Commission X of the DPR received an audience from the Indonesian Education Providers Alliance (APPI) last week.

In Articles 17 and 18 of the National Education System Law that is currently in effect (UU Number 20 of 2003), madrasas are referred to as a form of education, both at the elementary, junior, and secondary levels. Meanwhile, in the circulating draft revision of the Kemendikbud National Education System Law, there is no madrasa phrase.