The Eternal Islamic Boarding School Fund Has Not Also Entered Presidential Decree 111/2021

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion continues to strive for the pesantren endowment funds to be immediately included in Presidential Regulation Number 111 of 2021 concerning Eternal Funds in the Education Sector. So the use for improving the quality of pesantren can be maximized.

"We continue to strive, coordinating with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture because he is leading the sector. We will coordinate later so that there is a revision to this Presidential Regulation so that pesantren endowment funds can enter," said Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas during a meeting with Commission VIII DPR RI in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 21, reported by Antara.

The statement was in response to a proposal from Member of Commission VIII DPR RI Hidayat Nur Wahid so that pesantren endowment funds could be used immediately. Hidayat is of the view that pesantren endowment funds should be used in 2023.

Pesantren's eternal funds, he said, could be used to improve the quality of human resources, both in terms of students and educators. Moreover, President Joko Widodo has signed Presidential Regulation Number 82 of 2021 concerning Funding for the Implementation of Islamic Boarding Schools.

"Mr. Jokowi has signed it in 2021 (Perpres 82/2021), it was taken from the education endowment fund. It is important to realize and we propose that in 2023 it can be implemented," said Hidayat Nur Wahid.

Yaqut said that the pesantren endowment funds were indeed integrated under the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP), but there needed to be an execution stage.

In Presidential Regulation 111 of 2021 regarding the Abadi Education Fund implemented by LPDP, there are only four things, namely the endowment of research, education, higher education, and culture funds.

However, Yaqut said, the pesantren endowment fund has not been described in detail in the regulation. To encourage this, the Ministry of Religion will coordinate with related parties so that Presidential Regulation 111/2021 is immediately revised and outlines the issue of the pesantren endowment fund.

"Indeed, the pesantren endowment funds that have been mandated have not been included in this Presidential Regulation," he said.