Reading possesses a lot of benefits, but Indonesian Muslims’ reading interest in very low. Indeed, Indonesian people has the lowest reading interest in ASEAN. Based on a survey by UNESCO in 2011, a reading index of Indonesian people was only 0.001 (one of a thousand showing high reading interest). Moreover, children nowadays would rather spend their time playing online games and social media than recite Al-Qur’an or read scientific or Islamic books. On the other hand, parents’ businesses induce them to disregard their children’s activities. The parents do not motivate their children to love reading. They also do not have power to enhance their children’s reading interest, but in Islamic psychology the parents should be a role model to their children.
In a defense on Saturday (28/7) at Graduate School of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Mulyadi presented his dissertation entitled ‘Parenting for Children (A Study Case of Muslim Family’s Reading Interest at SD As-Shofa Pekanbaru, Riau). “SD Islam As-Shofa has a program and service for students to instill reading interest which affect their high achievements even though parents are busy working. This research focuses on learning achievements of students of grade 3, 4, 5 at SD Islam As-Shofa. It tries to examine parenting in developing reading interest and to find out parents’ efforts to lift reading interest,” stated Mulyadi.
Employing descriptive qualitative research, Mulyadi concluded that parents’ efforts and parenting impact students’ achievements and reading interest. “Interview findings show that situational parenting can influence children’s reading interest. Some efforts of parents are caring about educational issues, providing nutritious food, motivating children to study hard, and making a schedule of children’s activities,” mentioned Mulyadi.
Additionally, Mulyadi pursued his doctoral degree with a high distinction predicate. He was the 44th graduate from Doctoral Program of Psychology of Islamic Education. Examiners of his dissertation defense were Prof. Dr. Alef Theria Wasim, M.A., DR. Arif Budi Raharjo, M.Si., Prof. Dr. Usman Abubakar. M.A., Prof. Dr. Anik Ghufron. M.Pd., Dr. Muhammad Anis, M.A., Dr. Akif Khilmiyah, M.Ag. and Sri Atmaja P. Rosyidi, Ph.D.
