COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Islamic Boarding School Business

Chairman of the Communication Forum for Islamic Boarding Schools (FKPP) Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, Suparman Manjan/Photo: Antara

BINTAN - Chairman of the Communication Forum for Islamic Boarding Schools (FKPP) in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, Suparman Manjan said the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the development of the Islamic boarding school business. , but there is a lack of funds," said Suparman, in Tanjungpinang, Tuesday, March 15. According to him, almost all Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia have suffered the same fate. When accepting new students and female students, not all parents are able to pay the tuition fees set by the Islamic boarding school. In fact, the entrance fee for boarding schools, especially in Riau Islands, is much cheaper than other provinces. Even the monthly fees set at Islamic boarding schools are also cheap, as in Islamic boarding schools in Bintan, on average they do not reach IDR 1.5 million per month. The monthly fees are not only for education, but also three meals, beds, electricity and water." Another problem is that there are a number of students and female students who can't afford to pay school fees. We help students and female students from families who can't afford it. What's important is that they excel," he said, quoted by Antara. Improving the quality of education is the main target, by preparing qualified education personnel and adequate educational facilities.

But on the other hand, the icon in the Islamic boarding school is expected to be a magnet so that residents send their daughters to boarding school. Therefore, every Islamic boarding school that is able to survive during the pandemic must have an advantage. "The orientation remains on the quality of education so that Islamic boarding schools remain in demand," said the owner of the Al Idris Bintan Islamic Boarding School. Al Idris Islamic Boarding School has been operating for more than six years. The number of students and students reached about 500 people. This year, as many as 132 prospective students and female students enrolled at MTS and MA Al Idris. The cost of education at the Al Idris Islamic Boarding School was initially only Rp. 1.1 million per month. After more than six years of operation, the monthly tuition fee becomes IDR 1.25 million, rising slowly. "We don't dare to raise the cost of education every year.