Minister Teten Mau Pesantren Bisa Mandiri Through Cooperatives

Photo via Antara

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (MenkopUKM) Teten Masduki wants to realize economic independence through the Islamic Boarding School Cooperative (Kopontren).

"The government is committed and very serious to helping Islamic boarding schools to be economically independent," said Teten Masduki in his remarks commemorating National Santri Day and the NU Century Kick Off at the An-Nur 2 Al-Murtadlo Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes), Malang, East Java, Saturday, October 22.

According to him, Islamic boarding schools can become a center for community economic empowerment through the development of financial fields such as Micro Waqf, BMT (Baitul Maal Wa Tamwil), and other ultra micro.

Some of the programs carried out by the Ministry in the development of a corporate-based economy include fund financing with a very low interest rate of three percent flat.

Then, he continued, the government will provide cluster People's Business Credit (KUR) financing with a budget ceiling of IDR 373.17 trillion in 2022 and IDR 400 trillion next year.

"We (will) make piloting here for the development of KUR clusters because Islamic boarding schools can be a place of business, not only a place to find knowledge, here it can become an economic cluster for Islamic boarding schools," said Teten Masduki, quoted by Antara.

Through copontren, he said, Islamic boarding schools can take advantage of social forestry programs so that students and people who are members of cooperatives can use government-owned land to be managed.

The government, he continued, provides easy access for small people to land two hectares per person out of a total of 12.7 hectares provided for management.

"With forest management for productive activities, it is hoped that the community's economy will grow better," said Teten Masduki.

The caretaker of the An-Nur 2 Tourism Ponpes Al Murtadlo Fathul Bari appreciates the government's steps and policies that always provide support for Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia. In the future, he hopes that the pesantren community will be better in terms of economy and science.

"Thanks to the support from the Minister (Teten Masduki), the pesantren economy has become more independent and can run well. Hopefully, the Minister can continue to support Islamic boarding schools in East Java and generally in Indonesia," he said.