PKB Supports Islamic Boarding School Transformation Towards Economic Independence

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - The Islamic Boarding School Transformation Acceleration Forum (FPTP) has started a major step to encourage the economic independence of Islamic boarding schools.

Through the Islamic boarding school's economic tadarus activity with the theme "Promoting Islamic Boarding School Business" which was held at the PKB DPP, it became part of a long series of pesantren transformation programs that were previously initiated by international conferences and roadshows in various regions.

FPTP Director and PKB Shura Council Secretary Saifullah Maksum said the agenda this time focused on aspects of economic convenience.

"Today, specifically we started hard work, long work, namely transforming into aspects of economic convenience," said Saifullah, quoted on Saturday, August 16.

According to him, the pesantren caregivers received enlightenment from two figures, Prof. Dr. Jaenal Effendi and Ustaz Tazakka, to improve their mindset regarding the importance of economic independence.

"Maybe we should make a new strategy, a new approach to ensuring that this kind of forum is effective," he explained.

Islamic boarding schools have so far been considered to have contributed greatly to countries and people with cheap education and the sincere dedication of teachers. However, the state has not been fully present to facilitate the budget aspect.

"The state is not yet fully present to facilitate, educate, back up Islamic boarding schools from the budget aspect. For example, our state budget, if presented how much rupiah is to empower pesantren from their economic aspects," he said.

Saifullah emphasized that his party does not want to fully burden the country. Islamic boarding schools are invited to be independent while still empowering the economy of the people around them.

"This is just enough for the Jabodetabek cover, next time we will be in another place. Until we want to read the two thousand Islamic boarding schools that we educate," he added.

Saifullah added, PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar who was unable to attend left a special message so that pesantren dared to evaluate themselves and speed up improvement steps.

"The government must move forward, must transform, must be evolution, must be open," said Saifullah.

This program will continue and involve more Islamic boarding schools throughout Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Head of the IPB Development and Rural Study Center, Jaenal Effendi, assessed that this activity was very important to encourage Islamic boarding schools to innovate and be independent.

"Professionalism of an institution, let alone pesantren, is very necessary. We are very aware that this nation's main problem is number 1 to number 5, it is human resources," he said.

Jaenal said pesantren has great potential to become a basis for the development of various sectors, ranging from agriculture, livestock, forestry, to the creative economy. In addition, he also encourages government support and stakeholders so that Islamic boarding school economic activities are protected and able to penetrate the export market.

"This student is an agent of change, agent of transformation and agent of innovation that exists," Jaenal said.