Adolescence is an essential period of one’s life that a lot of changes occur such physical, biological, psychological and social changes. Those changes require adolescents to be able to confront psychological, emotional, and behavioral consequences. Thus, educational institutions and family play roles in preventing the adolescents from juvenile delinquency. The issue underlay Syarifan Nurjan, S.Ag., M.A. to conduct research written on his dissertation entitled ‘Behavioral Trends of Juvenile Delinquency in Islamic Education Institutions in Ponorogo Regency.’ His research setting was Islamic education institutions in Ponorogo, Jawa Timur (Muhammadiyah schools, Ma’arif schools, Pesantren of International Programs, and Pesantren of National Programs.
Common issues of teenagers at school are that students are often late to go to school or are less disciplined, break school rules such as smoking inside or outside school, hang out at school hours, are less motivated to learn, rarely read literatures, feel insecure to go to and back from school, and get difficulty in getting public transport to and from school.
At his dissertation defense on Saturday (15/9), Syarifan also mentioned several motives of juvenile delinquency at school such as immature personality, genetic, and unstable family condition. Nevertheless, the symptoms of juvenile delinquency are hardly ever found in Islamic education institutions even though Islamic boarding schools only play small roles in diminishing the juvenile delinquency.
“The Islamic education institutions are Islamic boarding schools and educational institutions managed by Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama. It is believed that students learning at the Islamic education institutions gain more understanding, internalize, and practice Islamic teachings. However, many facts showed that students in Islamic education institutions were found smoking, dating, staying out of dorms, stealing, and playing truant,” explained Syarifan.
To cope with the juvenile delinquency, students should get particular treatment such as interweaving good relationship with students’ family, school, and friends, as well as diminishing the juvenile delinquency.
Additionally, Syarifan successfully became the 48th graduate of Doctoral Program of Psychology of Islamic Education of UMY with high distinction. Examiners at Syarifan’s dissertation defense were Sri Atmaja P. Rosyidi, M.Sc.Eng., Ph.D., Dr. Aris Fauzan. M.A., Prof. Dr. H. Sutrisno. M.Ag., Prof. Drs. H. Sarbiran, M.Ed., Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Anik Ghufron, M.Pd., Dr. Abd. Madjid, M.Ag., Dr. Muh. Samsuddi, M.Pd., and Dr. H. Moh. Anies, M.A.
