STRATEGIZING ISLAMIC EDUCATION

Abstract

This paper attempts to put forward a formulation of a strategy in realizing Islamic education. The scope of Islamic education here does not confine to Muslims per se, but instead goes beyond ethnic-religious groups to entail with universally virtuous human beings and system of life, benefitting all, not only the Muslims alone (rahmatan-lil-alamin). With such a premise, this paper tends to emphasize on two fundamental requirements in strategizing the Islamic education. Firstly, on the nature of Islamic educational institutions. Secondly, on the strategy in enhancing the Islamic education itself. The discourses of the former come with the conviction that an Islamic educational institution has to be embedded firmly within Islamic philosophical and epistemological underpinning, reflecting by all of its deeds, from management, teaching-learning method, and research methodology. In the later, mission of an Islamic educational institution is stressed to be accomplished via innovative endeavors, by doing away with emulation from, benchmarking, and competing with other existing socalled Islamic and non-Islamic education. The aim is to become a real pioneering and leading institution, leaping forward beyond the typical follower image of many contemporary existing Islamic educational institutions nowadays.