Balancing Religious Values and Contemporary Skills in Islamic Education Curriculum

Abstract

The rapid transformations of the 21st century, particularly in science, technology, and globalization, have created new challenges for education systems, including Islamic education. Traditionally focused on nurturing moral character and spiritual foundations, Islamic education must now also prepare students with competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and digital literacy. This study aimed to examine how Islamic schools integrate religious values with contemporary skills to enhance students’ holistic development. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews and document analysis. The study involved 10 Islamic schools (5 traditional and 5 balanced curriculum models), with 200 students, 40 teachers, and 10 administrators as participants. Data collection measured student performance, teacher preparedness, stakeholder perceptions, and curriculum implementation. Findings revealed that schools applying a balanced curriculum integrating faith with modern competencies showed higher levels of student participation, critical thinking, digital literacy, and ethical decision-making compared to traditional models. Teachers with strong training in both pedagogy and digital literacy were more effective in contextualizing Islamic values within modern challenges.