By, Ali Aminulloh
INDRAMAYU-JAYA-NEWS.COM – Small voices are singing a big message about the nation’s future. From the lips of children, some only four years old, meaningful songs about love for the homeland, unity, humanity, and devotion resound. They may not fully understand the depth of each word. Yet through melody and rhythm, noble values are planted in their souls. At Ma’had Al-Zaytun, character education does not always start from lengthy explanations in the classroom. It can grow from a song sung wholeheartedly.
That inspiring scene is part of the Qabliyah Friday tradition at Ma’had Al-Zaytun, a routine meeting every Friday featuring the tausiyah of Syaykh Al-Zaytun. The forum brings together exponents, coordinators of student guardians, lecturers, teachers, unit leaders, and representatives of OPMAZ. They gather not only to listen to advice but to strengthen shared awareness about the direction of education.
After the tausiyah, three students appear to recite the Sapta Janji Dharma Bakti. The recitation becomes part of commitment, discipline, and responsibility education.
The atmosphere continues with institutional songs containing the spirit of education and nationality: Mars Al-Zaytun, Mars Universitas Al-Zaytun, Mars Politeknik Tanah Al-Zaytun Indonesia Raya (TANAH AIR), and Hymne Politeknik TANAH AIR.
What is special is that those who perform are not only teenagers, but also Early Childhood Education (PAUD) children, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) students from grade I to VI, and Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) grade VII students. Even four-year-olds are accustomed to singing songs containing national values.
At an age when some children are still learning to string sentences together, they have been introduced to love for the homeland through singing. This is not merely an art performance, but mental training to build courage, discipline, communication skills, and self-confidence from an early age.
Behind the simplicity of a song lies a very fundamental educational process. Songs have the power to convey messages through repetition, rhythm, and emotional experience.
Syaykh Al-Zaytun instills the view that children must be habituated to positive values from an early age. Education is not enough to rely on knowledge transfer alone but requires continuous habituation.
Through the songs sung in Qabliyah Friday, Ma’had Al-Zaytun is building a bridge between intellectual education, character building, and appreciation of national values.
This is the essence of sustainable generation development: ensuring that good values continue to live and are passed from one generation to the next.
Perhaps for some, watching a four-year-old sing a march and hymn is just a simple performance. However, from an educational perspective, that activity holds a much greater message.
Because what Al-Zaytun is building is not just children’s ability to sing, but also awareness to love, courage to work, and willingness to serve.
The song they sing today may end in a few minutes. But the values instilled through it are expected to echo throughout their lives.
Indramayu, October 17, 2026
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