This second curriculum workshop was held in Depok from August 6-9, 2008 at Hotel Bumi Wiyata. This workshop was designed as a follow up to the previous workshop in order to further focus the curriculum on particular topics, particularly with regards to Packets B & C, as well as a module on civic education.

Topic 1             : ICT  Based Open and Distance Learning (ODL): Phases, Development of Study Materials, Management and Quality Assurance

Speaker           : Muhammad  Lukman –SEAMOLEC

Mr. Lukman provided direction on how to make good modules so that they are easily understood and used by students. A self-learning material is a learning material which is written in a specific manner so that it is easy to study with only a little, if no, assistance from teachers or others. Self learning materials are often referred to as 'modules'. Important elements in creating a module are:

   1. It must be self explanatory or self-contained

   2. It must consist of several chapters

   3. It must be presented in sections

   4. It must contain self-tests and key ideas at the end of each section

   5. It must encourage the student to learn

   6. It must entice the student's desire to learn

   7. It must appear interesting. What is also important is that a module must use language which is easily digested and communicative.

Topic 2          : Wajar Dikdas and Paket C in Pesantren: Attainment, National Exams and Certification

Speaker        : Dr. H. Ahmad Zayadi, MPd (Kasubdit Pendidikan Kesetaraan dan Wajib Belajar Depag)

Various types of basic education have been conducted to provide an opportunity for people to be involved in basic education, either in a formal sense through elementary and junior high school, or through non-formal modes such as Packet A and Packet B, but at the moment not all children aged 7-15 have the chance to enjoy a basic education. Among those who have yet to enjoy basic education services are santri who study in salafiyah (traditional) pondok pesantren.

Since the proclamation of the compulsory schooling movement (gerakan wajib belajar) through Inpres No. 1/1994, pondok pesantren have been established as one of the types of basic education with their own way of handling education, and their system of equivalent basic education agreed to by the Minister for Education and Culture. Based on EMIS data from the Department of Religion in 2006, the total number of santri aged 7-15 years old is 1,820,799, but those who are under the Department of National Education's formal Compulsory Schooling (Wajar Diknas) including elementary schools, junior high schools and technical junior high schools only number 805,230. THus there are 1,015,569 santri who are not included in compulsory basic education.

From 2000/2001, when traditional pondok pesantren were established as providers of Compulsory Basic Education, up to 2006 a number of santri who previously were not included in formal basic compulsory education units are now included. Data from 2007 shows that around 588,098 santri are participating in the 9-year Compulsory Schooling Program, 221,827 at elementary school level and 366,261 at junior high school level.

Besides compulsory basic education in traditional pondok pesantren, pesantren are also providing equivalent education Packet A (equivalent to elementary school); Packet B (equivalent to junior high school); and Packet C (equivalent to senior high school), which are provided based on a Joint Agreement between the Director-General of Non-School Education and Youth (Department of National Education), and the Director-General of Islamic Religious Bodies (Department of Religion) No. 19/E/MS/2004 and No. Dj.II/166/04 regarding the Coordination of Equivalent Education in Pondok Pesantren and reaffirmed by the Joint Agreement between the Department of National Education and the Department of Religion No. 19/E/MS/2007 and No. 2/2007 on the Coordination of Non-School Educational Programs in Religious Bodies. This agreement was signed by the Minister for National Education and the Minister for Religion on March 18, 2007 in Semarang. 

Topic 3             : Life Skills in Pesantren: Relevance and Contextualization

Speaker           : Nurcholish (developer of the ENDONESIA website)

Nurcholish talked in detail about his own experience starting out as a novice in web development but without any special education being able to develop the ENDONESIA website which has served as a source of income for him. Life skills represent a skill which can be used to produce or increase income. In the context of Education for all, and various global and national policies which have flowed on from it, it seems clear that the teaching of and education in life skills is still and will continue to be relevant for younger generations and students, whether they are in public schools or pesantren.

Topic 4             : Civic Education in Pesantren: Study Materials and Learning Strategies

Speaker            : Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada- UIN Jakarta

Civic education is conducted with the following curriculum objectives:

   1. to cultivate young generations that have a sense of responsibility for the progress of their nation through utilizing all opportunities which are made available by globalisation.

   2. to cultivate young generations that become Indonesians who are democratic, opposed to violence and respectful of human rights, appreciate plurality, and be inclusive towards various views and streams of thought which exist in society.   

   3. to cultivate young generations that are independent in realizing a creative, innovative, dynamic civil society and are able to mobilize all of the community's potential towards the goal of progress, without having to rely on government action and policy.

   4. to cultivate santri that respect human rights, so that cultural articulations to not disturb others and, even further, to respect the rights of others, emerge.

The main study materials of Civic Education are Democracy, Human Rights and Civil Society, with an emphasis on civic skills, because the main concept behind civic education is to cultivate younger generations which will become democratic and civilized, with the hope that all of their potential can be mobilized towards the goal of national progress. The understanding of democracy here is in the sense of optimalising the participation of citizens in developing ideas, thoughts and concepts, in improving the nation's capability in the future, participation in developing regulations to ensure development, while always being critical of deviations by government and state bodies in the executive, legislature and judiciary.

The civic education topics which can be developed for pesantren are:

   1. Democracy

   2. Human Rights

   3. Civil Society in the concept of "Masyarakat Madani"

   4. The State and Citizens

   5. The Constitution and Laws

   6. Regional Autonomy

   7. Good Governance

   8. Multi-cultural Society

   9. National Identity

The photo gallery for this Workshop can be viewed here .