Nowadays students live in an ever changing pace and swift cyber development. They need to learn that they don’t only live by themselves on this planet, but also they live with other people and teenagers who are facing the same common problems in their daily life.
Therefore, to answer these challenges accordingly to the Islamic values that we strictly hold, Daarul Quran Ketapang and Kalibata City Primary Schools had an annual program to visit neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia in order to develop a further understanding of the customs and habits applied on a regular basis on those countries. As many as twenty students and three teachers had a trip on April 9 to April 11, 2018 (23-25 Rajab 1439 Hegira).
The trip also had a purpose of developing a deeper understanding of the Islamic education system applied in the Islamic educational institutions, both in Singapore and Malaysia. How Islamic values can be applied to holistic educational approach even in countries where secular constitution is upheld, like Singapore.
In Singapore we visited Masjid Sultan, the Art and Science Museum, the Merlion Park, the shopping centres in Bugis Street. We had dinner on the food stalls and tasted the abundant Halal yummy cuisine there. This was the place where we bought plenty of souvenirs for our family. We felt really tired but we also felt happy at the same time.
In Johor Bahru, Malaysia, we visited the Lego Land. It was an amazing moment for our students since they had an unforgettable moment spent in the amazing big-sized Lego worlds. Our accommodation while in Johor was the Sommerset Medini Iskandar Puteri, Johor Darul Takzim.
On Day three we visited the Al-Hidayah Islamic Primary School in Skudai, Johor. This is a modern integrated Islamic education that combines the latest technological advancement in education with the traditional Islamic values that are strictly held by the Malayan community.
We went directly from the school to Kuala Lumpur International Airport to return to Jakarta, our beloved hometown. It was a picturesque trip with some great views of the pristine blue water and small islands from the window of our plane. Hello Tangerang and Jakarta, we’re coming back! Home sweet home, Baiti Jannati Indonesia.