Deputy Speaker Of The House Of Representatives Emphasizes The Importance Of Modern Santri, Must Be Digitally Literacy

Plenary Meeting Determination Of DPR/PHOTO Leader: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal emphasized the importance of developing the character of human resources (HR) at the commemoration of the 2024 National Santri Day (HSN). He also encouraged pesantren to increase efforts to produce modern students in the midst of the progress of today's era.

"On behalf of myself and the DPR, I congratulate the 2024 National Santri Day to all students and the pesantren community in Indonesia. The contribution of students is very large in the development of the nation," said Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, Tuesday, October 22.

Pada peringatan HSN ke-10 ini, Cucun menilai ada banyak hal yang dapat diremungkan kembali terkait kontribusi santri di Tanah Air.

"It is a call for all of us to emulate the fighting spirit that has been inherited by the ulama and previous students," said the DPR leader who grew up in the pesantren environment.

According to Cucun, there are many challenges faced by the world of santri today, both social, economic, cultural, and political. One of them is the emergence of many negative issues related to individuals in Islamic boarding schools that have recently occurred.

"So character building education (character building) is very important for our students," said Cucun.

The pattern of character development is not only the core of the goals of national education, but also the core of Islamic education as stated by Egyptian scholars and scholars, Muhammad Athiyah al-Abrasyi who stated that high school education is the spirit of Islamic education'.

Cucun said that the character building method must be a priority in learning for students so that the aim in Law No. 18 of 2019 concerning Islamic Boarding Schools can be realized, namely how pesantren carry out the function of education, da'wah function, and community empowerment function properly.

"The number of issues related to the problem of the moral crisis of individuals in Islamic boarding schools must be a record of how the implementation of Law 18/2019 and the presence of the Government in coaching and evaluation must run, so that Islamic boarding schools do not become victims," he explained.

Cucun added that Law No. 18 of 2019 must be a means so that pesantren can become a vehicle for character education and moral development in the community and around the pesantren environment itself.

The pattern of guidance and character building in Islamic boarding schools can create students as human beings who have the strength of faith and knowledge. In faith, it is also a matter of morals because having knowledge without morals will certainly be in vain," said Cucun.

The public administration doctor from Padjadjaran University (Unpad) hopes that the students will continue their predecessors' struggle by holding on to faith and knowledge. Cucun said that students have noble duties through their various roles, such as preaching and empowering the community.

"Santri are the nation's buds that will be the mainstay of national development. Therefore, students must grow up to be individuals who have benefits for others and for the nation and state," said the legislator from the West Java II electoral district.

In addition to character education, Cucun also emphasized the importance of Islamic boarding schools in providing vocational education for their students. Because the pattern of vocational education is very much needed in the midst of the progress of the times that demand human resources to have abilities outside the academic field.

"Vocational capital can increase the competitiveness of students in various sectors of life. Especially in the economic field where students also have a role to build a populist economy," explained Cucun.

Cucun also gave an example of a number of Islamic boarding schools that have presented a pattern of vocational education. Such as the Al-Ittifaq Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Ciwidey, Bandung, West Java, which has a focus on agricultural or agribusiness activities.

"So pesantren not only provide conventional education, but also empower their advantages so as to produce benefits for the students and the community," he said.

Not only Al-Ittifaq Islamic Boarding School, Cucun also appreciated several other Islamic boarding schools that had developed vocational education. Among them are Darussa'adah Islamic Boarding School in the Gunung Manik area, Pacet, Bandung Regency, which has the concept of vocational integrity farming through agriculture and animal husbandry.

Then there are also digital Islamic boarding schools, namely Bina Insan Mulia Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon which has vocational education in the field of broadcasting (television), Information Technology, to nursing. Ponpes Bina Insan Mulia even has a Media Center Pesantren to introduce its pesantres more broadly to the public and facilitate communication with the guardians of students.

"We can also maximize the Islamic Boarding School Community Work Training Center (BLKK) program which has vocational education in preparing human resources for the nation's children in the future. BLKK aims to improve the quality of human resources among Islamic boarding schools, as well as advance the people's economy," explained Cucun.

To support the ability of students in the midst of this globalization era, Cucun also emphasized the importance of creating modern students.

"All students must be digitally literate. In the world of technological advances, becoming modern students is a must. Santri can take advantage of technology to preach and spread Islamic knowledge, because of course the message can be easier to reach especially among the younger generation," he explained.

Through technology, according to Cucun, students can also carry out their role as agents of national development as well as drivers of the people's economy. Modern students are also said to be in line with the theme of the 10th HSN of 2024, namely "Contwining the Juang, GROWing the Future".

"Santri as the next generation of the nation has a responsibility to fight for the future of the nation so that they must be able to keep up with the times. In addition to being able to spread Islamic values by utilizing technology, students can also grow the digital economy," concluded Cucun.