ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the madrasah, excluding pesantren, as representing an analytical case of the curriculum of Islamic education in Indonesia after its independence. It explains the concept of curriculum encompasses the load of subjects taught in the madrasah and developed in a particular context of change, which indicates efforts done by the government and the Muslim community and/or scholars to reform this Islamic institution. The chapter also explains the gradual reforms in the madrasah curriculum in the post-independence era and how the initial madrasah religious identities have become less important. The madrasah curriculum was designed to provide students with religious instruction, the secular/general subjects and skills development, and would be completed in eight years. The ideal objective of Islamic education – to produce students who possess Islamic knowledge and morality and are active participants in society – has been influential in the formation of the madrasah curriculum.
