Government Improves Islamic Boarding School Governance, Cak Imin Says Majority Of Santri Are Extremal Poor

A Joint Agreement On Synergy In The Implementation Of Islamic Boarding School Infrastructure Of The Minister Of Public Works, Minister Of Home Affairs, And Minister Of Religion At The Office Of The Coordinating Ministry For Human Development And Culture, Jakarta. (Diah-VOI)

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) revealed that the government is now committed to improving the governance and infrastructure of Islamic boarding schools throughout Indonesia.

According to Cak Imin, this step became part of the state's presence after the tragedy of the collapse of the Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo which killed dozens of students.

This was stated in the signing of the Joint Agreement regarding Synergy in the Implementation of Islamic Boarding School Infrastructure of the Minister of Public Works, Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister of Religion at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Central Jakarta.

"Some time ago, after the collapse of the Al-Khozini Sidoarjo Islamic Boarding School building, the President asked me about the development and handling after we reported it and he gave directions and orders for the government to be present to handle, overcome, make future management plans so that the tragic events do not happen again," said Cak Imin, Tuesday, October 14.

According to him, the government should be present to improve the welfare of the pesantren ecosystem. This is because the majority of students who study at Islamic boarding schools come from families with the lowest economic, even extreme poor.

"The Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment indicated that 80 percent of students who took part in pesantren education were from desil 1 families, with a maximum of 2 due to cheap, even free financing. In Islamic boarding schools, they grew and sold, even moreover, they received total trust from the community to entrust their students," he explained.

Cak Imin also understands that pesantren have many limitations because they rarely get educational assistance from the government.

Pesantren mengalami berbagai tantangan, bahkan berbagai kesulitan yang tidak mudah. Keunikan pesantren salah satunya adalah selain mandiri dan bahkan tidak pernah menerima bantuan pemerintah, ungkapnya.

However, he emphasized that the principle of independence should not ignore the safety of students. Therefore, local governments are asked to be more proactive in providing assistance and intervention, especially for pesantren that are at high risk of the threat of safety.

Prabowo, he continued, had ordered the government to encourage audits, supervision, and renovations of Islamic boarding schools that are prone to collapse, landslides, or have other potential hazards. This step is taken to ensure the safety and comfort of the students in studying.

"One of these efforts, the President will encourage the government to assist both in monitoring audits and renovating and the sustainability of Islamic boarding schools that are prone to landslides, prone to collapse and various other vulnerabilities," he said.