MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION IN ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL (A Descriptive Study of Pesantren DDI Mangkoso, South Sulawesi) By: Muhaemin

The main objective of this research is to elaborate how pesantren contend multicultural education and how they deal with it. This research relies on qualitative inquiry through conducting interview either in focus group discussion (FGD) or in depth interview. Moreover, the researcher will conduct observation to look at the life of pesantren in detail, particularly, how students (santri) cope with the multiculturalism. The researcher also examines the wide range of literatures related to the topic. It will focus on pesantren Mangkoso Barru, Indonesia, representing traditional pesantren in the region of South Sulawesi. The data will be collected from the teachers, students, kyai (religious leaders) in this particular pesantren. The data will be analysed systematically. The findings suggest that pesantren have their own understanding regarding multicultural education. Their understanding is mainly derived from the holy Koran without learning from western perspectives. They believe that human beings are created on the basis of difference, so people must appreciate one another. The differences related to language, race, religion, are the must. These concepts have been implemented in the pesantren curricula. The curricula are very inclusive and more opened to any difference. Pesantren provides different materials that come from different sects, and students may learn from them. There is no enforcement from pesantren management to just learn from specific sect. In addition, expanding networks of pesantren is also inclusive. They have already collaborated with different organization in relation to development of pesantren management. Another aspect that might be considered is its vision of leadership that is widely opened. The leaders (kyais) are frequently involved in multicultural campaigns, such as seminars, workshops, and bench markings. They perceive that the progress of pesantren strongly depends on the way kyai deals with contemporary issues, including multiculturalism. Keywords; multicultural, education, pesantren, kyai, santri A. Introduction The concept of multiculturalism is becoming a trending topic for the last decades. A huge number of researches focusing on multiculturalism might be easily found both through articles and books. Some argue that this issue need to be seriously taken into account considering many movements coming from the minority groups of religion, culture, and race, emerged to demand their existence being recognized by public society and state (Parekh, 2008). They insist on asking government to appreciate their existing on behalf of civil rights. Another point that might be considered is several conflicts based on races, ethnicity, religion, and culture that are happening across the globe, indicated the importance of implementing multiculturalism in the practical way. I believe that people who tend to commit violence or conflicts in the name of religion and culture demonstrated their inability to recognize the differences. In other words, they lacked understanding regarding multiculturalism. Unfortunately, in the context of Indonesia, the majority of people who got involved in a religious violence come from traditional Islamic school (pesantren) background. Consequently, pesantren, as an interesting feature of Islamic education in Indonesia, is frequently perceived as a source of radicalism by Western media and Western policy makers (Lukens-Bull, 2008, p.1). That is to say that pesantren is anti-multiculturalism and ignoring the nature of difference. Contrary to this perception, Lukens-Bull (2008) contends that pesantren is not a center of radicalism but a source of anti-radicalism in the efforts to establish peace and harmony in the world. A number of values on