ADMISSION SYSTEMS IN ISLAMIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BASED ON STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT AND CONSENT

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32478/leadership.v7i2.4738

Authors

  • Endah Winarti UII Darullughah Wadda'wah Pasuruan -  Indonesia
  • Binti Nasukah STIT Ibnu Sina Malang -  Indonesia
  • Raheb Sulaiman O Alturki King Saud University Riyadh -  Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Admission policies are increasingly recognized as strategic tools through which educational institutions project their values and define desired student profiles. While extensive research has examined admissions based on academic achievement, equity, or socio-economic background, little attention has been paid to the affective and aspirational dimensions of student selection, particularly in non-Western and faith-based contexts. This study addresses that gap by exploring how two kinds of Islamic secondary schools in Indonesia (Madrasah and Pesantren), construct and operationalize their admission logics. Employing a qualitative comparative case study design, data were gathered through interviews, observations, and document analysis. Findings reveal two divergent approaches: Madrasah privileges measurable academic excellence, while Pesantren emphasizes student consent, defined as a student’s expressed willingness to undertake a long-term educational commitment. These criteria reflect not only institutional visions but also produce distinct graduate outcomes. By introducing student consent as a novel analytical construct, this study expands existing frameworks of admission policy. The findings offer theoretical insight into the ideological dimensions of student selection and practical guidance for designing mission-aligned admission strategies.

Keywords: Admission Policies; Student enrollment; Islamic Education; Students Consent; Students achievement; secondary school.

 

 

 

Abstrak

Kebijakan penerimaan siswa semakin dipahami sebagai alat strategis bagi lembaga pendidikan untuk menampilkan nilai-nilai yang mereka anut sekaligus menentukan profil siswa yang diharapkan. Selama ini, banyak penelitian membahas sistem penerimaan yang bertumpu pada prestasi akademik, aspek keadilan, atau latar belakang sosial ekonomi. Namun, perhatian terhadap dimensi afektif dan aspiratif dalam proses seleksi siswa masih sangat terbatas, terutama dalam konteks non-Barat dan lembaga pendidikan berbasis keagamaan. Penelitian ini mengisi kekosongan tersebut dengan mengkaji bagaimana dua jenis lembaga pendidikan Islam jenjang menengah di Indonesia (Madrasah dan Pesantren), merancang dan menerapkan alur logika penerimaan siswa mereka. Menggunakan desain studi kasus komparatif dengan pendekatan kualitatif, data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara, observasi, dan analisis dokumen. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya dua pendekatan yang berbeda. Madrasah lebih mengutamakan keunggulan akademik yang dapat diukur, sementara Pesantren menekankan kesediaan siswa (student consent), yang dimaknai sebagai kemauan siswa untuk menjalani komitmen pendidikan jangka panjang. Perbedaan kriteria ini tidak hanya mencerminkan visi kelembagaan masing-masing sekolah, tetapi juga melahirkan karakter lulusan yang berbeda. Dengan memperkenalkan konsep student consent sebagai konstruk analitis baru, penelitian ini memperluas kerangka kajian tentang kebijakan penerimaan siswa. Temuan ini memberikan kontribusi teoretis dalam memahami dimensi ideologis dari proses seleksi siswa, sekaligus menawarkan panduan praktis bagi lembaga pendidikan dalam merancang sistem penerimaan yang selaras dengan misi.

Kata kunci: Kebijakan Penerimaan; Pendaftaran Siswa; Pendidikan Islam; Persetujuan Siswa; Prestasi Siswa; Sekolah Menengah.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Azra, A. (2014). Reform in Islamic Education: A Global Perspektive Seen From the Indonesian Case. In C. Tan (Ed.), Reforms in Islamic education: International perspectives. UK & USA: Bloomsbury. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472593252.ch-003

Barratt, M., Choi, T. Y., & Li, M. (2011). Qualitative case studies in operations management: Trends, research outcomes, and future research implications. Journal of Operations Management, 29(4), 329–342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2010.06.002

Bó, I., & Ko, C. Y. (2021). Competitive screening and information transmission. Journal of Public Economic Theory, 23(3), 407–437. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpet.12489 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpet.12489

Bulkani, B., Fatchurahman, M., & Setiawan, M. A. (2023). Zonation system in admission of new student at state secondary school in Indonesia: How predictable to learning success. The Education and Science Journal, 25(8), 115–133. https://doi.org/10.17853/1994-5639-2023-8-115-133 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17853/1994-5639-2023-8-115-133

Chen, Q., Chen, Y., & Zhao, Q. (2020). Impacts of boarding on primary school students’ mental health outcomes – Instrumental-Variable evidence from rural northwestern China. Economics & Human Biology, 39, 100920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100920 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100920

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.

Davidson, W. B., Beck, H. P., & Milligan, M. (2009). The College Persistence Questionnaire: Development and Validation of an Instrument That Predicts Student Attrition. Journal of College Student Development, 50(4), 373–390. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.0.0079

de Visser, M., Fluit, C., Cohen-Schotanus, J., & Laan, R. (2018). Do different curriculum aligned selection procedures admit students with different personality profiles to medical school? PLoS ONE, 13(12), e0209312. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209312 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209312

EMIS - Kementerian Agama. (2025). Retrieved September 16, 2025, from Emis.kemenag.go.id website: https://emis.kemenag.go.id

Gebre-Medhin, B., Giebel, S., Alvero, A. J., antonio, anthony lising, Domingue, B. W., & Stevens, M. L. (2022). Application essays and the ritual production of merit in US selective admissions. Poetics, 94, 101706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2022.101706 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2022.101706

Gonçalves, G. S., Serra, F. A. R., Storopoli, J. E., Scafuto, I. C., & Rafael, D. N. (2024). Undergraduate Student Retention Activities: Challenges and Research Agenda. Sage Open, 14(3), 21582440241249334. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241249334 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241249334

Hadwen, K. (2015). Leaving home: Investigating transitioning challenges faced by boarding students and their families (Thesis: Doctorate, Edith Cowan University). Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1628

Hughes, J. A., Park, H. C., Christensen-Grant, D., & Fuentes, D. G. (2021). Achieving Enrollment Outcomes by Aligning Applicant Recruitment and Selection with Unique Organizational Niches. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85(4), 7743. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7743 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7743

Iannelli, C., McMullin, P., & Smyth, E. (2024). Higher education retention in Ireland and Scotland: The role of admissions policies. Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01259-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01259-1

Irwandi, H., & Zulhimma. (2025). Facilities and Infrastructure as Supporting Factors for Learning Quality. Leadership: Jurnal Mahasiswa Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 40–55. https://doi.org/10.32478/leadership.v7i1.4122

Jheng, Y., Lin, C., Chang, J. C., & Liao, Y. (2022). Who is able to choose? A meta-analysis and systematic review of the effects of family socioeconomic status on school choice. International Journal of Educational Research, 112, 101943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101943 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101943

Kemenag. (2021, January 30). MTsN 1 Kota Malang Dapatkan Penghargaan Madrasah dengan Raihan Prestasi Terbanyak. Retrieved September 19, 2025, from https://kemenag.malangkota.go.id/showNews?head=mtsn-1-kota-malang-dapatkan-penghargaan-madrasah-dengan-raihan-prestasi-terbanyak

Lee, F. X., & Suen, W. (2023). Gaming a Selective Admissions System. International Economic Review, 64(1), 413–443. https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.12591 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.12591

Mahlangu, V. P. (2019). Rethinking student admission and access in higher education through the lens of capabilities approach. International Journal of Educational Management, 34(2), 450–460. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-08-2019-0280 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-08-2019-0280

Mameli, C., Grazia, V., & Molinari, L. (2023). Student agency: Theoretical elaborations and implications for research and practice. International Journal of Educational Research, 122, 102258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102258 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102258

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). United States of America: Sage Publications, Inc.

Molin, E. (2024, August 7). Long-Term Impacts of Achievement-Based School Assignment [SSRN Scholarly Paper]. Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4638401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4638401

OECD. (2004). Completing the Foundation for Lifelong Learning: An OECD Survey of Upper Secondary Schools. Studienverlag Ges.m.b.H., Innsbruck/OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264103733-en. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264103733-en

OECD. (2019). Balancing School Choice and Equity: An International Perspective Based on Pisa. PISA, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/2592c974-en. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/2592c974-en

Pascarella, E. T., Cruce, T., Umbach, P. D., Wolniak, G. C., Kuh, G. D., Carini, R. M., … Zhao, C.-M. (2006). Institutional Selectivity and Good Practices in Undergraduate Education: How Strong Is the Link? The Journal of Higher Education, 77(2), 251–285. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2006.11778926

Rahmatullah, R., Maisyarah, & Mutamakin. (2025). Strategic Management Model Based on Islamic Values in Islamic Boarding School Education. Leadership: Jurnal Mahasiswa Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(2), 218–234. https://doi.org/10.32478/leadership.v6i2.3760 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32478/leadership.v6i2.3760

Reardon, A., Lushington, K., Junge, A., Crichton, J., & Agostini, A. (2023). Boarding versus day-students: A mixed-methods analysis of sleep and its relationship with psychological distress. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 93(4), 1146–1170. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12624 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12624

Sormin, D., Rahmayanti, M., & Hasanah, D. (2025). Strategies for Promoting Education in Student Recruitment in Pesantren. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 6(2), 322–337. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v6i2.1656 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v6i2.1656

Suleiman, Y., Hanaf, Z. B., & Bin Taslikhan, M. (2016). Relationship between Admission, Extracurricular Services and Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools: A Partial Least Square (PLS) Approach. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(8), 27–38.

Suratin, S. I., Mutniati, V. P., Gazali, A., Latif, A., Latif, M. S., & Rosyida, F. A. (2024). Identification of Factors in Selection of Islamic Education Management Postgraduate Programs. Journal of Instructional and Development Researches, 4(6), 467–476. https://doi.org/10.53621/jider.v4i6.393 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53621/jider.v4i6.393

Takaku, R. (2020). How is increased selectivity of medical school admissions associated with physicians’ career choice? A Japanese experience. Human Resources for Health, 18(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-00480-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-00480-0

Tapia, E. (2023). Schools’ priority rules and ethnic school segregation. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 44(2), 331–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2022.2154640 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2022.2154640

Timer, J. E., & Clauson, M. I. (2011). The use of selective admissions tools to predict students’ success in an advanced standing baccalaureate nursing program. Nurse Education Today, 31(6), 601–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2010.10.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2010.10.015

Traini, C. (2022). The stratification of education systems and social background inequality of educational opportunity. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 63(1–2), 10–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207152211033015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00207152211033015

Vaughn, M. G., & Witko, C. (2013). Does the amount of school choice matter for student engagement? The Social Science Journal, 50(1), 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2012.07.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2012.07.004

Voss, C., Tsikriktsis, N., & Frohlich, M. (2002). Case research in operations management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570210414329

Wang, J., & Wildman, L. (1995). An empirical examination of the effects of family commitment in education on student achievement in seventh grade science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32(8), 833–837. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.3660320806 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.3660320806

Yin, R. K. (2003). Case Study Research: Design and Methods (3rd ed., Vol. 5). USA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-15

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

ADMISSION SYSTEMS IN ISLAMIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BASED ON STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT AND CONSENT (E. Winarti, B. Nasukah, & R. S. O. Alturki , Trans.). (2026). Leadership: Jurnal Mahasiswa Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), 376-394. https://doi.org/10.32478/leadership.v7i2.4738