Yogyakarta, December 12, 2024 – The Department of Mathematics, FMIPA Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Regional Management of the Nahdlatul Ulama Teachers Association (Pergunu DIY) and Rabithah Ma’ahid Islamiyah (RMI) NU, held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled “Strategies to Improve Santri Numeracy Skills in Islamic Boarding Schools at the High School Level.” The event took place in Meeting Room I of the Department of Mathematics, FMIPA UGM.
Starting at 9:30 AM, the activity aimed to enhance the numeracy skills of Islamic boarding school students (santri) as a critical foundation for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Over 30 in-person participants, including mathematics teachers, boarding school leaders, religious instructors, and boarding school organization administrators, gathered to discuss the challenges and strategies for developing STEM education in these institutions.
KH. Hodri Arief, MA, Chair of Rabithah Ma’ahid Islamiyah NU, opened the discussion with a presentation titled “The Future of Islamic Boarding Schools and the Need for Santri Numeracy Literacy.” Subsequent sessions featured Dr. Irwan Endrayanto from UGM and Prof. Hadi Susanto from Khalifa University, who reflected on STEM education and the role of santri values in fostering motivation to become mathematicians.
The discussions, which continued until late afternoon, generated several strategic ideas to strengthen santri numeracy. One of the expected outcomes is a strategic document outlining programs to enhance numeracy in Islamic boarding schools.
By integrating STEM education into the boarding school curriculum, santri are expected not only to gain profound religious knowledge but also to acquire scientific and technological skills, enabling them to contribute to the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia 2045).
Keywords: Numeracy Literacy, Education, Curriculum.
Author: Silvina Rosita Yulianti
Photographer: Documentation Team