Islamic Literacy Training and Character Building for Students at Thamislam Foundation School, Nonthaburi, Thailand

Abstract

Muslim minority communities in Thailand face persistent challenges in maintaining Islamic literacy and shaping religious character among the younger generation, particularly in non-southern provinces such as Nonthaburi where Islamic educational resources are limited. This community engagement program aimed to strengthen the Islamic literacy and character of students at Thamislam Foundation School, Nonthaburi, Thailand, through structured virtual training delivered by lecturers from Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Minhaajurrosyidiin, Jakarta. The activity was conducted online via the Zoom Meeting platform, employing a participatory action approach that combined lectures, interactive question-and-answer sessions, group discussions, and reflective practice. The training involved 46 to 47 secondary-school students together with school teachers and accompanying facilitators across two main sessions, with thematic content focused on the foundations of Islamic literacy, the reading and understanding of religious texts, and the cultivation of noble character grounded in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Pre- and post-activity observations, supplemented by participant reflection forms, showed a clear improvement in students' understanding of basic Islamic literacy concepts, increased motivation to study religious texts, and stronger awareness of character values such as honesty, discipline, respect, and responsibility. Teachers reported that the training also offered a useful model for cross-border Islamic education collaboration. The program demonstrates that well-designed online community engagement can effectively bridge geographic distance to support Islamic education in Muslim minority settings, and recommends sustained partnerships, locally adapted modules, and continued mentoring as next steps.