Exploring the role of integrated Islamic school network (JSIT) in inculcating its ideological values

Abstract

This study investigates the role of the Integrated Islamic School Network (JSIT) in the inculcation of its ideological values through education. It examines the historical context of Islamic education in Indonesia, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) on JSIT, and the strategies employed by JSIT to inculcate its Islamic values. This research also sees the interplay between JSIT’s quality assurance and the National Standard of Education in creating good graduates or alumni for the nation. The theoretical framework of curriculum, total quality management, and inculcation values are applied to the three research questions, namely to explore how JSIT’s ideology develops throughout the curriculum, how is JSIT’s role in inculcating its ideological value within the school under its umbrella and lastly to study the implementation inculcation of the ideology process within the school unit. This study employs a qualitative approach. The data were collected through interviews, observations, and documents at three JSIT schools in Bekasi involving two teachers and two principals from Islamic-integrated Schools. The data was analyzed using Quirkos, a qualitative data analysis software to carry out thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate that the ideology is developed into the curriculum via subject, humanistic, and social reconstructionist approaches, aligning with the goal of enhancing the Islamic ethos of the students. The function of JSIT itself lies in ensuring the quality of the schools within its purview. JSIT's quality assurance matches Indonesia's national education standards; however, it incorporates the Quran, Sunnah, and Hadiths into these standards, along with an additional criterion focusing on student development. JSIT places a strong emphasis on the importance of teacher professionalism, advocating for continuous professional development to enhance teaching quality and effectiveness. It upholds the principles of total quality management theory to ensure educational excellence in the affiliated schools, with a particular emphasis on moral imperatives over others. The methods used to inculcate the ideology encompass various approaches such as content delivery, curriculum design, extracurricular activities, and community involvement initiatives. Additionally, JSIT recognizes the vital role of parental engagement in education, promoting active participation and collaboration between parents and educational institutions to nurture students' holistic growth. In other words, the ideology of JSIT which fuses smoothly in the national curriculum will strengthen and enhance the graduates or alumni due to its well-planned, well-managed, and well-measured. The ideology could shape the socio-religious values of the graduates with potential implications for the socio-landscape of Indonesia. Further research is recommended in order to measure the further impacts of the JSIT’s ideology.