Kartini’s from Ciputat (1)
Rectorate, UIN News Online – Every 21 April, Indonesians commemorate Hari Kartini (Kartini’s Day). A day to celebrate Indonesian hero of women empowerment Raden Ajeng Kartini. Raden Adjeng Kartini (April 21, 1879-September 17, 1904) encouraged women in the country to be able to contribute as well as men in various aspects of community life.
Her thought, recorded in the book under the title Door duisternis tot licht (Through Darkness into Light) published by the former director of the Department of Education, Religion, and Industry J.H Abendanon.
UIN Jakarta participated in producing women who continued the spirit of RA Kartini. They strive to build society through their social, scientific and Islamic contributions. Who are they?
Prof. Dr. Hj. Zakiah Daradjat
Zakiah is one of the Ciputat Kartini that deserves to be mentioned in the first place. The woman born in West Sumatra on November 6, 1929 was one of the best educators Ciputat ever had. She managed to record the extraordinary role of women's groups throughout her bureaucratic and scientific career.
After completing her psychology education masters and doctorate in the Faculty of Education Mental Hygiene Department, Ein Shams University, Egypt, Zakiah worked in the Department of Religious Affairs (Ministry of Religious Affairs –ed) and at the same time opened practice of psychological consulting service. She also actively teaches at IAIN Jakarta for a number of psychological courses.
In the Department of Religious Affairs, Zakiah has been entrusted with a number of strategic tasks such as the Director of Religious Education and the Director of Islamic University Development. While at IAIN Jakarta, she continued to actively teach until she obtained the title of Professor of Psychology.
Throughout her career, Zakiah listed a number of influential policies in the world of education. Based on Arief Subhan's tracking results as published in the Indonesian Women's Ulama book, one of the important roles is to assist in the birth of the Joint Decree (SKB) of the Three Ministers between the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1975.
Through the SKB, Zakiah wants to appreciate the status of madrasa, one of which is by giving 70 percent general knowledge and 30 percent religious knowledge. The rules used up to now in Indonesian religious schools allow madrasa graduates of various levels to be accepted in schools and public higher institutions. This, according to Arief, was an important influence that Zakiah had noted in improving the quality of education in Indonesia.
As a psychologist, Zakiah stressed the importance of mental health in order to achieve life balance. In her book, Zakiah said specifically about this as quoted below:
“What determines the tranquillity and happiness of life is mental health. Mental health also determines whether people will have a passion for life, or will be passive and not excited. A mentally healthy person will not be easily discouraged, pessimistic or apathetic, because he can deal with any obstacle or failure and accept failure as a lesson that will bring success later”
Zakiah, who died on January 15, 2013, has represented the participation of women's groups in the public life, In addition to bequeathing Kartini's spirit in public life, Zakiah also bequeathed a number of works which summarize her thoughts and still being read today.
Some of her books are Ilmu Jiwa Agama, Kesehatan Mental dalam Al-Qur’an, Ketenangan dan Kebahagiaan dalam Keluarga, Pendidikan Agama dalam Pembinaan Mental, Pendidikan Akhlak dalam Al-Qur’an, Perawatan Jiwa untuk Anak-anak, and Problema Remaja di Indonesia. (usa/zm/othrsrcs)