Focusing on Ideological Transmission: Religious Ideology Transmission in Indonesian Islamic Schools: Mechanisms, Actors, and Social Consequences

Abstract

Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia face growing pressures as competing religious factions transform learning environments into arenas of doctrinal struggle. This research sought to investigate the channels through which religious ideologies are conveyed within school settings, evaluate the pedagogical elements involved, and examine the consequences arising from factional competition. Using a qualitative methodology that combined phenomenological and sociological lenses, data were gathered from school administrators, educators, students, and members of local communities. The research employed in-depth interviews, direct observation, and document analysis across three geographically distinct regions: Aceh, West Sumatra, and Yogyakarta. Findings reveal that educational institutions transmit religious teachings through formal classroom instruction, organized curricula, and teaching materials. Beyond the classroom, ideological transmission takes place through religious rituals, extracurricular programs, institutional regulations, and organizational culture. This process of ideological propagation generates divergent scriptural interpretations among students and fosters denominational divisions between various factions, thereby intensifying theological polarization across broader society. The doctrinal rivalry embedded within Indonesia's Islamic schooling system constitutes a pressing challenge that demands immediate attention to safeguard educational quality and support the holistic development of learners and their communities.