An Alternative Method toward Educational Reform in Turkey in the Light of Said Nursi Badiuzzaman (1877-1960) (Pendekatan Alternatif Terhadap Reformasi Pendidikan Di Turki Menurut Said Nursi Badizzaman (1877-1960))

This paper is attempting to study the prominent Muslim scholar in Turkey, Said Nursi Badiuzzaman’s proposal for educational reform and his alternative method to the old educational system in Turkey during his time. During the time of Nursi, Turkey had been heavily influenced by secularism under the leadership of Kamal al-Tartuk. The religious values had been marginalized from the practical aspects of man’s life. At the same time, the Muslims world had been dominated by the West in science and technology giving them the strength to control the economic power of the world. This domination had challenged the Muslims intellectually, spiritually and morally. It led to the weak conditions of Muslims. Said Nursi observed that those problems of Muslim could be solved through the educational reform program. He criticized the prevalent educational system in Turkey at that time because it could not produce a balance personality of Muslims as well as it failed to achieve a progress in society. Therefore, the system of education, according to him, must be reoriented accordingly. He proposed for a restructure of the curriculum in order to be aligned with the requirements of Islam and adjusted with the requirements of modern time. Although Nursi’s idea of educational reform was aimed at every level including primary level, secondary level, and university level, he gave emphasis on the university level. This paper did not only examine the theoretical dimensions of his educational reform but also highlighted the practical applications of the process. Keywords: Said Nursi, education reform, education system, modern time, science, technology. Abstrak Kertas kerja ini cuba mengkaji saranan Said Nursi Badiuzzaman, seorang pemikir Islam ulung di Turki terhadap reformasi pendidikan sebagai alternatif kepada sistem pendidikan lama. Pada zaman beliau, Turki dipengaruhi oleh ideologi secularisme di bawah pemerintahan Kamal al Tartuk. Pada ketika itu, nilai-nilai agama telah diketepikan daripada aspek kehidupan manusia. Pada masa yang sama, dunia Islam telah didominasi oleh dunia barat di dalam sektor sains dan teknologi sekaligus menjadikannya menguasai ekonomi dunia. Dominasi barat ini telah mencabar umat Islam secara intelektual, spiritual dan moral serta menjadikannya lemah pada ketika itu. Said Nursi melihat masalah kelemahan umat Islam dapat diatasi melalui program reformasi pendidikan. Beliau mengkritik sistem pendidikan di Turki pada ketika itu tidak mampu melahirkan personaliti Muslim yang seimbang dan juga gagal mencapai kemajuan dalam masyarakat. Oleh yang demikian, sistem pendidikan , menurut beliau, harus diolah dengan sewajarnya. Beliau menyarankan untuk menstruktur semula kurikulum agar ianya selari dengan kehendak Islam serta dapat memenuhi kehendak masa kini. Walaupun Said Nursi menyarankan idea reformasi pendidikan beliau di semua peringkat; rendah, menengah dan universiti, namun beliau lebih memberi penekanan terhadap peringkat universiti. Kertas kerja ini bukan hanya mengkaji reformasi pendidikan beliau dari aspek teori semata-mata malah memberi highlight terhadap aplikasi praktikal di dalam proses reformasi Said Nursi Badiuzzaman. Kata Kunci: Said Nursi, reformasi pendidikan, system pendidikan, masa moden, sains, teknologi.