By: Abu Michael

On November 2009, the monitoring activity of Open Distance and Electronic Learning (ODEL) program, International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP) which is supported by Ford Foundation, has conducted in PP Nurul Islam, Jember, East Java.

On that time, the atmosphere of Jember city’s sky was drizzly. I was accompanied by Mr. Samak Asmo (coordinator of ODEL’s program at East Java), and still be enthusiasm we came to the pesantren, which was well known at Jember regency area, because of the charisma, wisdom and knowledge of Kyai Muhyiddin Abdusshomad at its leader.

After getting into the area of Nuris, we got stop for awhile in front of the Mosque, and ODEL’s crew appointed to the house, which its yard was shady. It was the house of Kyai Muhyiddin. Accompanied by Mr. Samak, I have met with Kyai, after few minutes of waiting for him.

Because of Kyai’s busy schedule to teach and giving guidance to the people out side of pesantren, our discussion was not so long. Kyai just said his thankful on my visit and the trust which was given by ICIP to Nuris in organizing ODEL’s program. After that, Kyai asked to Mr. Samak to be able to accompany me to take a look around pesantren, especially to the place where the ODEL’s program is conducted and the computer laboratory as central of computer learning and internet connection. 

Afterward, I and Mr. Samak went to a building, which its gate was written “Department of Religious Affair; Packet C Program, PP Nuris, Jember, East Java”. We came to the computer laboratory room, which is as the center of ICT learning. Inside the room I met with many students who were almost everyday (when they were holiday) spending their time in front of internet, while guided by Mr. Pangky as Nuris’ technician. So, this situation is what I called “Nuris’ Santri closed to ICT”  

According to Mr. Pangky, almost everyday the computer laboratory has never quite from user. Especially, when it was holiday, all of the students will come here and use internet, and sometimes they have to fall in line to be able to use internet. Most of them were ‘face book’ user, said Pangky. Thereby, I told him that Pesantren Global’ also has face book address and also home page ‘www.pesantrenglobal.org, which is useful to be accessed in getting socio-religious information.

While talking, I am also trying the internet connection there. It was very good and fast connection. Beside that, Nuris also developing the internet connection to the wireless system network which could be accessed every building in the pesantren area. After that, we continued to take a look around of pesantren area, in which there also seen that Nuris also doing developmental building. There could be seen that the building process was still going on.

After taking a look of pesantrena are, finally I decided to continue to monitoring activity to PP Nurul Jadid, Paiton, Probolinggo, while accompanied by Mr. Samak Asmo as the organizer’s coordinator of ODEL program at East Java area.