Educational figures must be anti-radicalism because they are role models to be emulated. Therefore educators must be ensured to be anti-radicalism and have a high sense of nationalism.
School is a place to receive a good education, and a teacher is highly respected because he teaches science to students. While the principal leads the educational institution so that it gets better and has many achievements.
But how sad it is when there are educational figures who, instead of looking for ways to make their students smarter, are exposed to radicalism. As an educator he should not be a supporter of radical and terrorist groups.
Head of Research and Development Center for Religious and Religious Education Research and Development Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, Mohsen, stated that the education sector needs serious attention to prevent radicalism and extremism from an early age. He suggested an anti-radicalism ‘vaccination’ for educational figures so that strong immunity would be formed.
Mohsen added that religious tolerance and moderation need to be encouraged in every education sector. Thus, the building of understanding of religious moderation will be built solidly.
In a sense, educational figures must be given an understanding of anti-radicalism because they play an important role in schools. Do not let a teacher get involved in radicalism and spread it in the classroom, because the students will be affected. Teachers are respected figures and should not even be reviled for being involved in radical and terrorist groups.
A teacher will be imitated by his students, therefore he must set an example and behave positively. Do not even spread radicalism secretly because it will be dangerous. The students are poisoned by their brains and then they dream of becoming skilled bombers, not doctors or engineers.
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Educators must be anti-radicalism because the school environment must be clean from terrorism and radicalism. Especially if he has the status of a civil servant and he can be suspended for his actions that betrayed the country. Educators who are involved in radicalism are disgraceful and must be given punishment so they don’t repeat their actions that are not nationalist.
Therefore, currently the acceptance of prospective civil servant teachers (CPNS) must be more stringent than in previous years. In addition to math and general knowledge tests, there are tests to find out whether a CPNS exam taker is connected to radical groups or not. Screening is carried out strictly so that there are no PNS teachers who are involved in radicalism.
Meanwhile, Jepara Regent Dian Kristiandi stated that students and teachers must be aware of radicalism in schools. The reason is because according to a survey, there are more than 10% of schools exposed to radicalism.
In a sense, radicalism in the educational environment is very dangerous because it can poison the minds of innocent students, especially if they are still in elementary school. Don’t let children dream of becoming terrorists and bombing public facilities. They must be free from radicalism that can damage the nation.
To prevent radicalism in the educational environment, several methods can be used. First, there is a need for an anti-radicalism curriculum that teaches all about radicalism, so that students can know its characteristics. No need to be afraid to teach them about the history of radicalism, its organizations, etc. The reason is because after understanding it, they will avoid it.
The second way is media literacy education. Students are not only taught how to read and write book reviews. But they are also given knowledge of media literacy, especially in online media. Currently there are online media created by radical groups, which deliberately spread hoaxes and propaganda, with the aim of finding supporters from netizens throughout Indonesia.
If students understand media literacy, they will not be easily provoked by propaganda and are determined to be anti-hoax. They know how to differentiate between real news and fake news. Once you understand it, you will teach it to your parents at home, so that more people understand digital media literacy.
The third way is to teach students to think critically. Teachers must teach it because they don’t just require students to be silent and write during lessons. Critical thinking skills are needed because they will realize that radicalism and terrorism are wrong, because they think that what is taught by radical groups is excessive. There cannot be a caliphate because Indonesia is a pluralist country.
If ordinary students think critically and are given space to argue, even debate, then they will grow into strong and intelligent individuals. If there is persuasion from radical groups it will not work, because they are very critical and question, what is so great about the caliphate system? This system is only suitable in a monarchy country, while Indonesia is a democracy.
Educational figures must be anti-radicalism because they are teachers who are looked up to and imitated, and their bad (radical) actions will automatically be imitated by students. Therefore teachers must be given a ‘vaccine’ in the form of an understanding of anti-radicalism. As an educator he must be a nationalist and must not be a traitor to the state. (Galang Faizan Akbar, Persada Institute Contributor)