Kemenag prepares regulations for PAUDQU to become a formal education institution

Illustration: A number of children read the verses of the Quran at the Washilah Mosque, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan. ANTARA FOTO/Makna Zaezar/foc.

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) is preparing regulations that will later regulate the Quranic Education for Early Childhood (PAUDQU) to become a formal and integrated educational institution in national education.

"We must ensure that Quran-based education develops in line with the progress of formal education with PAUDQU which is now being prepared to become a formal institution," said the Director of the Kemenag Basnang Said Pesantren, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, April 8.

Basnang said PAUDQU, which was previously suspended due to its weak legal umbrella, is currently developing a curriculum and methodology that will enable this institution to be integrated into the national education system.

"The preparation of the KMA (Minister of Religion Decree) PAUDQU is an important part of this effort, where the KMA will establish PAUDQU as a formal educational institution for young children, referring to the standards of the curriculum and the quality of better educators," said Basnang.

He explained that PAUDQU will implement eight content standards in the future, including strengthening learning materials that are relevant to the development of young children, objective assessment, and effective management of institutions to ensure smooth operations and quality of education.

Meanwhile, LPQ (Lembaga Pendidikan Al Quran) will continue to be strengthened as a non-formal institution with a focus on improving quality that is relevant to community needs.

Although LPQ does not follow the formal education standards applied to PAUDQU, he said, LPQ remains committed to improving the quality of teaching, management of institutions, and the provision of adequate facilities and infrastructure to support effective learning.

The Deputy Director of Early Childhood Education and Quranic Education (PDTPQ) of the Ministry of Religion, Azis Syafiuddin, considers the focus on the development of PAUDQU towards formal education, as well as the strengthening of LPQ as a standardized non-formal institution, is the right policy direction in answering the needs of the times.

Furthermore, Azis Syafiuddin assessed that this effort is not only oriented towards increasing religious understanding, but also on the formation of academic competencies that are relevant to global challenges.

Thus, he said, the education of the Quran is no longer seen as a complementary education, but as the main foundation in forming a superior Qurani generation.

"I hope that more modern, standardized, and adaptive Quran education institutions will be born to meet the development of time, so that they can produce a generation with strong character, knowledge, and competitive skills at the national and global levels," he said.