Published: 13 January 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Analysis finds educational materials in the world’s largest Muslim country are positive towards Jews, though critical of Israel.
The analysis of the Indonesian curriculum shows that the world’s largest Muslim country is showing Jewish people in a neutral or positive light.
The report by an Israeli-British organisation, IMPACT-se, evaluated 169 textbooks taught in state-run schools, which serve 85% of the country’s students.
Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, said that although there is not a lot of information about the Jewish people in Indonesian textbooks, it is “neutral or actually sometimes positive" and "mainly objective.”
“It is a tolerant outstretch of arms to Jews and Judaism. When they talk about the Jewish religion it is absolutely within that realm of being tolerant. Violence against Jews is absolutely discouraged.”
Indonesia is implementing a concept of tolerance called Pancasila, a state philosophy integrated into all school subjects, which involves “a shared belief in the one and only God, within the framework of six major world faiths, and promotes the acceptance of unity within diversity.”
While the depiction of Jews is mostly positive, the attitude towards Israel is not "necessarily friendly,” Sheff said.
“Israel is considered to be an occupier, a colonising country in the words that they use. On the other hand, there is a recognition of the Israeli-Jewish indigenous status and I think this is important,” he said.
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Indonesian school curriculum shows Jews in positive light (Ynet)
Photo: School students in Indonesia (World Bank)
