Cultural Contestation and Acculturation in Islamic Education at an Indonesian School in Den-Haag, the Netherlands

Abstract

The establishment of Indonesian schools abroad is a mandate that must be fulfilled by Indonesian representatives abroad, including Sekolah Indonesia Den-Haag, the Netherlands. Indonesian schools have the responsibility of organising education with the distinctive character of Indonesian society with great challenges in the form of differences in culture, character, and values. This research aims to explain how the process of Islamic education at the Indonesian School in the Netherlands amidst these cultural and value differences. This research is a field research with a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation and then analysed using interactive analysis. The results showed de facto cultural differences between the people of Indonesia and The Netherlands such as eating habits and religion. The cultural contestation that occurs in Indonesian schools in The Netherlands found a "win win solution", namely cultural acculturation where different cultures blend together without leaving their distinctive characteristics. Islamic education is implemented by teaching Islamic values and Indonesian wisdom such as moderation, tolerance, courtesy, and brotherhood. The cultivation of these values is done through habituation and social religious activities in school activities. Islamic education at Sekolah Indonesia Den-Haag is able to preserve Islamic and Indonesian values while respecting the culture of the people of Den-Haag.