2011 Ramon Magsaysay Awards: Revolutionizing Islamic education in Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines - When Hasanain Juaini planned to build an Islamic boarding school in West Lombok, a remote province in Indonesia, he envisioned it to be modern and socially-innovative, one that defies traditions but would revolutionize Islamic education in the country.

Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, has over 50,000 Islamic schools called pesantren, the oldest type of school in Indonesia. Pesantrens are a major part of the national educational system. 

Juaini wanted the Nurul Haramain Putri Narmada to be a school that is open for girls and integrate community service and environment conservation programs where students and teachers are highly participative.

Today, the school is all that and more.

For Juaini, Nurul is not just a simple Islamic boarding school but a holistic learning center that empowers the community and preserves the environment.

He said an Islamic school should play a big role not only in preserving a child’s well-being but also in efforts to address social challenges outside the school’s fence.

In 1996, Juaini opened Nurul, a government-accredited five-year secondary education program, starting with 50 girls.

At first, Juaini initiated a program aimed at developing each student’s full potential. 

Today, the school has 500 students and 60 teachers – half of whom are women – and the first in Lombok to achieve 100 percent computer-based learning as students are provided with personal computers and teaching assistants, even at night.

Aside from academic excellence, Juani makes it a point that students reach out to the community and be a part in finding solutions to their problems.

He turned Nurul into a center for community development, encouraging students and teachers to be involved in issues of environmental quality, livelihood enhancement and good governance.

Juaini feels the need to address the community’s problems, particularly in West Lombok where deforestation and poverty are among the major challenges.

Among his programs are a social forestry project that allows community participation in conserving the environment while at the same time provides them extra income.

For instance, a family is asked to plant trees on a plot of land and maintain them under a long-term period.

In 10 to 15 years’ time, the family can cut the trees and sell them. Juaini also gives a grant of livestock to families for their short-term needs.

Aside from education, Juaini is a strong advocate of fair elections and clean and honest government.

In 15 years, Juaini has assumed the role of a cleric, teacher, community worker and social entrepreneur.

His modernizing innovations have been criticized by some. 

But for Juani, there is no division between teaching religion and calling on public officials to be responsible, or between running a school and getting the community to plant trees.

“Everything starts with a seed. Those who must take must give. It’s a big sin if you take and not give,” he said.