Myrthe de Vlieger: Indonesia’s Religious Diversity Management in Education

Myrthe de Vlieger
2016 Frans Seda Foundation Twin Scholarship Awardee

Thesis: Indonesia’s Religious Diversity Management in Education A case study addressing the possible freedom of religion for the indigenous Nuaulu pupils attending the Junior High School SMP Negeri 6 Amahai at Seram Island, Indonesia.

ABSTRACT
This thesis addresses Indonesia’s religious diversity management and its effect on the
freedom of religion in education. Central to Indonesia’s religious diversity management is the
Pancasila that was introduced in 1945 and recognizes only six religions to be official, namely
Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. While it is argued
in literature and human rights reports that this restricted recognition is limiting the freedom of
religion in education, little research has been conducted that analyses the effects experienced
by schools and pupils. Hence, as part of this research a case study has been conducted at the
Junior High School SMP Negeri 6 Amahai at Seram Island in Maluku. This school is attended
by pupils following the recognized Islamic religion as well as by indigenous pupils following
the non-recognized Nuaulu religion. This study shows to what extent the school is influenced
by the state’s religious diversity management; how the school manages religious diversity;
how the religious diversity management is perceived and experienced by the Nuaulu pupils;
and to what extent the Nuaulu pupils are free to express their religion. A focus group and
individual interviews illustrate that a significant aspect of the school’s approach towards
religious diversity is that it recognizes the Nuaulu beliefs as a tradition rather than a religion,
striving to provide the Nuaulu pupils with freedom of tradition at school. It is assumed that
the school’s non-recognition of the Nuaulu religion is an effect of Indonesia’s public
discourse and the influence of the Pancasila. On the one hand, the school’s non-recognition of
the Nuaulu religion may be viewed as discriminatory. On the other hand, the approach to
recognize the Nuaulu beliefs as a tradition rather than as a religion has enabled the school to
provide the Nuaulu pupils with freedom to express their beliefs, while simultaneously obeying
Indonesia’s laws.

Keywords: Freedom of religion in education, indigenous rights, Indonesia, Noaulu, Nuanea,
Nuaulu, Pancasila, religious diversity management, Seram island, SMP Negeri 6 Amahai.

Full thesis