Defense Minister Calls Business Incubation Program Bringing Islamic Boarding Schools Towards Independence

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto said that the Ministry of Religion's Islamic Boarding School Business Incubation Program was able to bring Islamic boarding schools to economic independence.

"Pak Jokowi (and) Minister of Religion (Yaqut Cholil Qoumas) is thinking about how Islamic boarding schools can be independent, they can have economic activities," Prabowo said when met after attending the Sarasehan event. Improvement of Islamic Boarding School Independence at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Saturday.

He explained that through this program Islamic boarding schools can provide services to students / female students without relying on assistance. According to him, this is in accordance with the government's goal to strengthen pesantren as a pillar of independence.

Prabowo assessed that pesantren is not only a place of religious education, but also an institution that plays a strategic role in economic development.

He said that through this program, pesantren as an institution will contribute to producing generations that are not only religiously competent, but also have expertise and understanding in entrepreneurship.

"So the pesantren can provide services to students, they don't always have to seek donations," he said.

He considered that pesantren was very important to develop because apart from forming independence, in its history it also played a role in supporting the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

Prabowo said that pesantren in fighting against the invaders were mostly led by kyai-kyai and the great ulama.

"Pesantren appeared in the situation of the nation critically many times," he said.

In addition, he explained that the Indonesian defense system is the defense and security system of the people of the universe (Sishankamrata). In the system involves kyai and ulama.

"This is history and our defense system is a security defense system for the people of the universe, so ulama, pesantren, play an important role," he said.

The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) noted that as of August 13, 2023, business incubation assistance for Islamic boarding schools from 2021 to 2023 had been distributed to 2,079 Islamic boarding schools. This assistance aims to improve the work skills and entrepreneurship of the students.

The program has a vision for the realization of Islamic boarding schools that have strong and sustainable economic resources, so that they can carry out the function of education, da'wah, and community empowerment optimally.