Participants, speakers, and facilitators in the First Dialogue: Integration of the Curriculum of Love and 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children with a Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) Approach, held on May 14–16, 2025.
Jakarta, LKLB News – The Leimena Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), as well as representatives from nine schools and five universities, convened a meeting to prepare the integration of Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) into the curriculum. The meeting aimed to prepare learning models with a CCRL approach within the government’s current curriculum, namely the Curriculum of Love, the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children, and deep learning methods.
The speakers present were Dr. Farid F. Saenong (Coordinator of the Minister of Religious Affairs’ Special Staff), Prof. Dr. Nyayu Khadijah (Director of Curriculum, Facilities, Institutions, and Student Affairs for Madrasah, Directorate General of Islamic Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia), Arif Jamali Muis (Special Staff of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of the Republic of Indonesia), Dr. Kosasih Ali Abu Bakar (Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Character Reinforcement, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of the Republic of Indonesia), Prof. Dr. Amin Abdullah (Advisory Board of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency/BPIP), Dr. Henriette T. Hutabarat Lebang (Presidium of the World Council of Churches), and Dr. Sarlota Singerin (Chairperson of the Dr. J.B. Sitanala Christian Education Development Foundation, Ambon).
“There are so many programs in the government, both from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, all of them are good, and it turns out that CCRL can go hand in hand and support the success of these government programs,” said Executive Director of Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, during the meeting entitled First Dialogue: Insertion of the Love Based Curriculum and the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children with a CCRL Approach on May 14, 2025.
The three-day dialogue held on May 14–16 was the first activity in a series of CCRL insertions into the curriculum or learning. The 30 participants of the First Dialogue consisted of rectors, deans, lecturers, school or madrasah principals, and teachers who are partners and alumni of CCRL training. As a continuation, the Second Dialogue will be held in the near future on July 30–August 1, 2025.
The university leaders present at the First Dialogue included Rector of the State Christian Institute (IAKN) Prof. Dr. Yance Z Rumahuru, Rector of the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Ambon, Dr. Abidin Wakano, Rector of State Islamic University (UIN) Datokarama Palu, Central Sulawesi, Prof. Dr. H. Lukman S Thahir, Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs, As’adiyah Islamic University of Sengkang, South Sulawesi, Dr. Ahmad Muktamar B, and Head of the Quality Assurance Institute, State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya, Dr. Ali Mustofa.
Executive Director of Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, delivered remarks at the opening of the Curriculum Insertion Dialogue, May 14, 2025.
At the madrasah and school level, those present included Principal of SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Magelang, Icuk Salabiyati, Principal of SMAS Kristen Rehoboth Ambon, Salomina Patty, Deputy Director of Tritunggal Christian School Semarang, Yonathan Djalimun, Principal of SMK Al-Achyar Banyuwangi, Zulfar Rohman, Deputy Principal for Curriculum of Madrasah Aliyah (MA) Al-Manar Semarang, Rohmat Hidayat, as well as teachers from MAN 1 Magetan, Gloria Christian School Surabaya, and MAS As’adiyah Putri Central Sengkang.
“The essence of CCRL is how we build trust and mutual respect for one another despite differences. It seems simple, but to be carried out on a large and sustainable scale, a systematic approach is needed. That is what we are trying to do together,” said Matius.
Matius expressed his gratitude for the presence of speakers and participants from various schools and universities who were willing to think together about how the CCRL program can have a greater impact on education in Indonesia. According to him, the dialogue held is a follow-up step from the ongoing CCRL program collaboration.
“In fact, this requires a long-term commitment, but we believe it is precisely because we do it together that this becomes something good for our community, our society, our nation, and our country,” Matius continued.
The dialogue produced several ideas from participants, including at the university level: inserting the Love Based Curriculum and CCRL into courses, and conducting teaching, research, and community service activities that incorporate the Love Based Curriculum and CCRL.
At the school/madrasah level, the ideas included inserting the Love Based Curriculum and CCRL into subjects and inserting the Love Based Curriculum into co-curricular programs. In addition, both universities and schools will prepare books consisting of models for implementing the Love Based Curriculum with a CCRL approach.