The first Workshop for the program was held in Depok, from June 26- 29, 2007, at Hotel Bumi Wiyata. This workshop brought together stakeholders and members of participating pesantren to discus what materials would be included in the curriculum for the distance e-learning program.

Topic 1             : Pesantren as centers for Distance and E-Learning

Speaker            :Dr. Undang Sumantri (Directorate of Diniyah Education and Pondok Pesantren)

Dr. Undang Sumantri discussed that pesantren can beneft from ICT based open and distance learning (ODL). There are 3,902 pesantren which apply Wajar Diknas (basic education and Junior High School). As a result 2,897 pesantren have provided basic education for 229,410 students and 2,922 pesantren have provided Junior High School education for 188,435 students.

Dr. Sumantri also said that many pesantren are already undertaking activities including: entrepreneurship, tarde (5360 pesantren or 33.5%), agribusiness (7872 pesantren, 49.2%), small industry (6045 pesantren, 37.7%) and service business (4530 pesantren, 28.3%). The suitability,  juga berkata bahwa banyak pesantren sudah menjalankan kegiatan termasuk : enterpreneurship, perdagangan (5360 pesantren atau 33,5%), agribisnis (7872 pesantren, 49,2%), industri kecil (6045 pesantren, 37,7%) dan bisnis layanan (4530 pesnatren , 28,3%). The suitability, relevance and target groups must be closely scruitinized, and issues of how to increase awareness of ICT, to ensure sustainability and to train the human resources needed must be seriously discussed. 

Topic  2         : Pesantren , Equivalent Education and Life Skills

Speaker        : Ir.Teguh Imanto Budi Cahyono, M.Kom – Kasi  Evaluasi Subdit Pengembangan Teknologi, Dirjen PLS, Depdiknas)

Ir. Teguh Imanto Budi Cahyono explained that MOU No.19/E/MS/2004 signed by the Department of National Education and the Department of Religion in 2004 states that the Department of Religion is responsibile for equivalent education programs while the Department of National Education is responsibile for study materials. There are two target groups of this program: the pesantren community itself and the surrounding community.

For the pesantren community, the objective of this program is to increase the knowledge and skills of santri (pesantren students) and provide certification of equivalent education for them. With this certificate it is hoped that santri will continue their studies to university level. For the community surrounding the pesantren, it is hoped that this program will reach out to people who did not take part in formal education.

Topic 3          :  Pesantren ICT Infrastructure

Speaker          :  R. Anton Rahardja – Jakarta-based ICT expert

Mr. Anton Rahardja said that the functions of ICT for training include:

   1. Increasing the flow of information

   2. Increasing data service

   3. Creating a transparent culture

   4. An efficient media for promotion

   5. Increasing global communications

   6. Access study materials from throughout the world

   7. Increasing efficiency in education

Topic 4         : Pesantren and ICT Infrastructure

Speaker        : Dewi Mairiza M.Kom (Teacher of Fikom at the University of Indonesia, ICT expert)

According to Ms. Mairiza, there are several factors which must be prepared related to the provider (ICIP):

   1. Communications Technology (CT) experts (LMS developer, multimedia developer, LMS administrator and infrastructure administrator).

   2. Experts of study materials

   3. Instruction designer

   4. LMS administrator and technician

   5. Facilitator

She also said that users of the system must master several things:

   1. Institution management

   2. ICT experts, who are able to maintain computers (hardware as well as software)

   3. Teachers and facilitators who understand browser applications

The photo gallery for this workshop can be accessed here .