TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A research by Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) at the Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN) revealed that 57 percent of school and madrasah (Islamic school) teachers in Indonesia have intolerant notions against other religious beliefs.

Meanwhile, the same study shows that 37.77 percent have the urge and desire to conduct intolerant actions. “This research aimed to understand the views and religious attitudes of school and madrasah teachers.

Teachers are in a strategic position and bear an important role in shaping students’ outlook, mindset, and values,” said PPIM UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Executive Director Saiful Uman in Central Jakarta today.

The research, according to Saiful Uman, utilized two measuring instruments with a questionnaire and Implicit Association Test (IAT). There were six statements that act as components to measure an intolerant opinion.

Two statements that are highly relevant in measuring a person’s intolerance were; “Firstly, Non-Muslims are allowed to establish a house of worship within your neighborhood. Secondly, neighbors with different religions are allowed to hold a religious event,” explained Saiful.

The statements with 56 percent of teachers disagree with the first statement and 21 percent do not agree with the second statement.

The research also found that 29 percent would agree to sign a petition to reject an education agency head with different beliefs. Other questions revealed that 34 percent teachers stated their willingness to sign a petition against the establishment of a school that adopts a non-Islamic belief system within their neighborhood.

The research on intolerance involved questioning 2,237 teachers as samples from 34 Indonesian provinces that were randomly chosen from August 6 to September 6.

FIKRI ARIGI