Gender segregation is a system of separating males and females in various aspects of life, including education, based on their gender. SMA IT Al Irsyad Al Islamiyyah Purwokerto is one of the schools that implements this system in accordance with the guidance of Surah An-Nur, verse 30, to uphold religious values, create a conducive atmosphere for Islamic learning, and minimize interactions that do not align with Islamic principles. This study aims to analyze the role of gender segregation in shaping an Islamic educational environment and to identify the challenges arising from its implementation.
This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the person in charge of Biah Islamiyyah, teachers, and students, as well as direct observations within the school environment and document analysis related to the gender segregation system. The data obtained were analyzed using interactive analysis techniques, enabling the researcher to identify key patterns related to the implementation and obstacles of gender segregation.
The findings indicate that gender segregation contributes positively to creating an Islamic environment that supports the formation of Islamic moral and ethical values through the habituation of daily religious practices (‘amal yaumi) among students. The system is applied across all school activities. However, several challenges were identified, including limited human resources, constraints on students' social development, and social stigmas prevalent in the community. This study emphasizes the importance of managing gender segregation wisely to optimize its implementation in creating an ideal Islamic environment.