Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – In welcoming the international Arabic language day on December 18, Indonesia’s religious ministry and Al-Sharq Center for Dialog and Civilization (CDC Al-Sharq) collaborate on multimedia-based Arabic learning programs.

The cooperation document was signed at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs here on Monday (Dec. 13).

The signing ceremony was attended by the head of the sub-directorate for Islamic schools at the ministry, Dr. Ahmad Hidayatullah; CDC Al-Sharq’s director Muhammad Anas; IMLA (ITTIHAD MUDARRISI AL-LUGHAH AL-ARABIYYAH/Association of Arabic Teachers in Indonesia)’s coordinator for cooperation Dr. Sitti Salihah; and the sub directorate’s coordinator for cooperation, Dr. Imam Bukhari.

In addition, the signing was also attended by Dr. Ali Almouf, advisor to the Saudi Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge (CRIK), who is also a lecturer at King Saud University.

Dr. Almouf is also an international adviser to IMLA, and one of the Arabic language experts who co-edits Arabic language textbooks in Indonesia.

In his speech, Dr. Almouf appreciated the cooperation and believed that it would benefit all students in Indonesia, as well as Arabic teachers.

He also stated his institution's readiness to cooperate in this program.

According to the ministry’s Director for Islamic schools (so-called madrasa), Prof. Dr. Mohamad Isom, legally this cooperation is strong and there is no need to doubt it, while hoping that the production process will run smoothly.

"Teachers and madrasa students are in dire need of multimedia-based Arabic learning media that adapt technology and learning applications, especially in this unfinished emergency period," he said.

He added that this multimedia learning of Arabic is expected to help students communicate in Arabic, as well as to eliminate the notion that learning Arabic is difficult.

"With the help of this technological media, Arabic can be learned anytime and anywhere," said Prof. Isom.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmad Hidayatullah hoped that in the next five to ten years, the Indonesian younger generation would be able to speak Arabic fluently like native speakers.

He added that the cooperation between CRIK Saudi Arabia and the institutions in Indonesia in developing the Arabic language would be stronger in the future and would further strengthen relations between the two countries.

CDC Al-Sharq’s director Muhammad Anas thanked the ministry and CRIK Saudi Arabia.

He said the development of learning Arabic with multimedia visuals was the right method and fit the current era technology.

"Currently we are entering the era of educational disruption, the fourth industrial era, the Internet of Things, the digital era and new media that demand cyber systems and visual basic-based learning system," he said.

This program targets at least 10 million people, including students and teachers of Islamic schools and boarding schools throughout Indonesia.

Reporting by Indonesia Window