Essay on Higher education and Community development
Content
ENGAGING RELIGION TO SOLVE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS By; Zaki Faddad S.Z
The problem of community is getting complex. In urban area such as Palembang the problems range from the growth population as the result of rural migration to environmental problems such as flood and pollution. The migration from its surrounding rural residents to Palembang city is not equal with the government effort to increase human
resources
capacity
and
to
provide
employments.
The
economic growth in Palembang is too far developed compared to growth in other areas in South Sumatra (Panorama, Azwardi, 2010). Surge of the population in the city of Palembang is quite alarming that 1.7% per year (2010-2013), above the national standard of 1.3%. This has resulted in the emergence of many social problems such as crime and economic inequality between the rich and the poor. Many environmental problems occur such as water and air pollution. Floods hit every rainy season in Palembang due to poor sanitation and trash. Air pollution is caused by forest fires and the density of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the behavior of the public on environmental awareness is still low. The question is that could religion at least take part to solve community problems. Many studies still consider religion has little significant in addressing the problems. Agama still plays in individual psychosocial scale. It has less contribution directly to touch the direct issues in community.
Ideally, religion, Islam especially, is not only
about the relationship between human and God, but also the relationship among humankind. Islam must show its universality so the teaching has to be implemented in day today life in term of humanity.
Indeed, it is not enough merely engaging religion to solve the community problems. It is the duty of Islamic Higher Education Institution in addressing the issues. IAIN (Islamic States Institute) Raden Fatah Palembang has already become UIN (Islamic States University),
which
means
UIN
Raden
Fatah
has
developed
multidisciplinary studies that will be very useful to make contribution to the community. From its establishment until today UIN Raden Fatah has huge social capital in South Sumatra Province. Most of the board staff of Islamic boarding schools and scholars in Palembang are alumni of this college. UIN Raden Fatah role in the future would be continued. Even so, the contribution of this institution through the alumni to address urban issues is still minimal. Therefore from this moment it should begin to develop an integrative curriculum between religion and other disciplines to address community issues. In the faculties of religion for example, they need to develop a curriculum, not only theory but also how to implement the practice of religion to solve the community problems. Communities should be a real laboratory to implement the nature of Islam as the universal religion. During this time, student study services (KKN –Kuliah Kerja Nyata) to the community in UIN Raden Fatah Palembang only address and socialize the worship matters. These programs have yet touched the material needs of society. My expectation for this training is to learn how to make a religious education curriculum to address community issues. In addition I also want to learn how to prepare the instruments needed to implement them not only theory but also social practices in addressing community problems.
The problem of community is getting complex. In urban area such as Palembang the problems range from the growth population as the result of rural migration to environmental problems such as flood and pollution. The migration from its surrounding rural residents to Palembang city is not equal with the government effort to increase human
resources
capacity
and
to
provide
employments.
The
economic growth in Palembang is too far developed compared to growth in other areas in South Sumatra (Panorama, Azwardi, 2010). Surge of the population in the city of Palembang is quite alarming that 1.7% per year (2010-2013), above the national standard of 1.3%. This has resulted in the emergence of many social problems such as crime and economic inequality between the rich and the poor. Many environmental problems occur such as water and air pollution. Floods hit every rainy season in Palembang due to poor sanitation and trash. Air pollution is caused by forest fires and the density of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the behavior of the public on environmental awareness is still low. The question is that could religion at least take part to solve community problems. Many studies still consider religion has little significant in addressing the problems. Agama still plays in individual psychosocial scale. It has less contribution directly to touch the direct issues in community.
Ideally, religion, Islam especially, is not only
about the relationship between human and God, but also the relationship among humankind. Islam must show its universality so the teaching has to be implemented in day today life in term of humanity.
Indeed, it is not enough merely engaging religion to solve the community problems. It is the duty of Islamic Higher Education Institution in addressing the issues. IAIN (Islamic States Institute) Raden Fatah Palembang has already become UIN (Islamic States University),
which
means
UIN
Raden
Fatah
has
developed
multidisciplinary studies that will be very useful to make contribution to the community. From its establishment until today UIN Raden Fatah has huge social capital in South Sumatra Province. Most of the board staff of Islamic boarding schools and scholars in Palembang are alumni of this college. UIN Raden Fatah role in the future would be continued. Even so, the contribution of this institution through the alumni to address urban issues is still minimal. Therefore from this moment it should begin to develop an integrative curriculum between religion and other disciplines to address community issues. In the faculties of religion for example, they need to develop a curriculum, not only theory but also how to implement the practice of religion to solve the community problems. Communities should be a real laboratory to implement the nature of Islam as the universal religion. During this time, student study services (KKN –Kuliah Kerja Nyata) to the community in UIN Raden Fatah Palembang only address and socialize the worship matters. These programs have yet touched the material needs of society. My expectation for this training is to learn how to make a religious education curriculum to address community issues. In addition I also want to learn how to prepare the instruments needed to implement them not only theory but also social practices in addressing community problems.
