a Glance | Principal of Al Azhar 55 | Al-Azhar 55 Primary Islamic School

a Glance | Principal of Al Azhar 55

Sunday January 5th 2025

Principal of Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta (2024-2025)
M. Miftakhur Risal, M. A.

Dear Students, Parents, and the Al Azhar 55 Community
Assalamu’alaikum Wr Wb

As we come to the end of the academic year 2024/2025, we celebrate not only the accomplishments and progress of our students, but also the spirit of resilience and growth that has guided us throughout this special year. To all our students from Grades 1 to 5, congratulations on your journey—may this milestone be a stepping stone to even greater achievements.

This year has been a moment of transformation for our school community. We moved into a new, modern school building—a place filled with light, opportunity, and promise. But more than just a change of space, this move represents a new beginning, a new spirit, and a renewed commitment to our mission.

True to our theme New Home, New Hope, we embrace this fresh chapter with hearts full of gratitude and minds ready to grow. With this new environment comes the responsibility to grow betier, not only academically but also in character. We hope to see our students take greater ownership of their daily routines opening car doors by themselves, preparing school materials independently, and gradually becoming learners who can take initiative and explore knowledge with curiosity and purpose. Independence is not just a skill; it is a mindset we must nurture together.

At the same time, we strive to strengthen our English-speaking environment. Language opens doors—not only to new knowledge but also to new friendships and global connections. Let us become a community where English is practiced naturally, confidently, and joyfully.

As an Islamic school, we are also deeply commitied to nurturing students who are righteous, respectful and grounded in strong Islamic values. We pray that this new building becomes a space where adab and akhlaq flourish alongside academic learning.

We also dream of building a culture of research and exploration. With enhanced facilities, let this new chapter be one where students ask bold questions, experiment freely, and grow to love the process of discovery.

Yet, with every new blessing comes new challenges. Our vertical, city-centered campus brings new dynamics—students may be spread across different levels or even buildings. This demands greater discipline, safety awareness, and respect for guidance from teachers and staff. Success in this environment requires us all to be more organized, more careful, and more collaborative.

Beyond the physical challenges, we are also called to sharpen the quality of our learning. Improving our educational outcomes is not just a goal; it is a shared responsibility. Let us aim for progress in every classroom, so that our education report reflects the excellence we strive for every day.

And above all, let us remember to enjoy the journey. School is not just a place to study—it is a place to laugh, to grow, to make memories, and to build friendships that last a lifetime. May this new home inspire a deeper sense of harmony, mutual respect, and kindness among all members of our community. Together, let us build not just a school, but a home—a place of hope, faith, and lifelong learning.

May this new home be filled with hope, harmony, and barakah for us all.

Wassalamu’alaikum Wr Wb

Testimony

Prof. Dra. Hj. Suwarsih Madya, M.A., Ph.D.

Amidst the globalized situation which poses challenges of which one is a possible threat to identity, yet provides ample opportunities to excel for those who possess the prerequisites, we need to equip our children as the continuing generation with necessary competencies—affective, cognitive, psychomotor and interactive. In other words, we need to help them grow and develop into total persons and this can be achieved through the whole-child development approach which ensures the development of all potentials. In addition to this is the need for developing some competence which enables the children to communicate globally. All of this will ensure that the children will develop their citizenships both at the national and global levels. How can this ideal development be realized?

If you want to find out about how efforts are made to develop children’s whole potentials, you can come to SD Islam Al Azhar 55 Yogyakarta. Here you can see how the four-year old school has grown fast due to the stakeholders’ trust to send their children to study here. With only 54 children in the first year, this school now has 185 students. These students are educated to respect and preserve the social-cultural environment by learning the local language (Javanese, including the script) and arts (dance). Simultaneously, they certainly learn the national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and national content, which is unquestionable since it is compulsory, and English, which has now become a global lingua franca; thus, a prerequisite for successful global communication. More importantly, children in this school also learn to practise their religion consistently. So, in this school children’s identity is rooted in the local culture, with nationalism and global awareness being inherently developed together with reliogiosity.

Does the whole-child development approach at SD Islam Al Azhar still give room for children to excel? In my belief, when all their potentials are developed, children will have a greater chance to excel and I can see the truth in my belief in this primary school. In the last two years, the students have made great achievements in various competitions held at the local and national levels–gold medals in English, math and science competitions (national), silver and bronze medals in IT competitions (national), silver and bronze medals at colouring and swimming competitions (local) to mention some.

In conclusion, SD Islam Al Azhar has given evidence of the right efforts of true education to develop both intelligence and character.

Prof. DR. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.

Testimoni Sebagai Orang tua menyekolahkan anak Di Al-Azhar 55

Sudah menjadi kewajiban bagi orang tua untuk memberikan pendidikan yang terbaik bagi putra putrinya. Tantangan untuk mendidik anak di Era Global dan Digital pun semakin besar, kita tidak bisa lagi membendung segala perubahan yang begitu cepat terjadi, dan harus mempersiapkan anak-anak supaya bisa survive dan sholeh/sholehah tentunya. Saat ini dunia bagaikan kampung, dimana tidak ada batas-batas untuk melakukan transaksi kehidupan, untuk itu anak harus bisa berkomunikasi dengan bahasa universal sebagai modal utama. Disamping itu, pendidikah Ahlak dan Aqidah harus diberikan secara dini sebagai dasar anak dalam menghadapi gejolak gelombang kehidupan. Atas pertimbangan tersebutlah, kami selaku orang tua memilih untuk menyekolahkan putra kami tercinta Hikari di Sekolah Islam, yang menggunakan dua bahasa pengantar, yaitu Al-Azhar 55.

Prof. DR. Budi S.Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.