JAKARTA - Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized the crucial role of pesantren (ponpes) in forming nationalism and producing national leaders. According to him, pesantren not only educates children about religion, science, and technology, but also instills strong nationalist values.
"It is very inappropriate for us to separate between pesantren and the state because in pesantren we educate our children to know religion, know science, technology, but also nationalism. And this is in pesantren," said Bahlil during the Ramadan Safari to the Azzainiyyah Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Sukabumi, West Java, Sunday, March 8.
Bahlil, who is also the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, arrived at the Azzainiyyah Islamic Boarding School in the afternoon and immediately performed the afternoon prayer. After that, he visited the grave of the charismatic cleric KH Zezen ZA Bazul Asyhab. This visit is part of the Ramadhan Safari agenda carried out by Bahlil.
During his visit, Bahlil was accompanied by a number of Golkar Party officials, including Meutya Hafid, Ace Hasan Syadzily, Sarmuji, Puteri Komarudin, Dave Laksono, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, and Dewi Asmara. Together with the students, Bahlil also sang the Indonesian national anthem, the Ponpes Azzainiyyah Mars, and the Golkar Party Mars.
He added that pesantren has a very big role in the journey of the Indonesian nation. From this educational institution, ulama, community leaders, and figures who maintain the moral values of the nation are born.
Bahlil reminded that pesantren already existed long before Indonesia was independent. Pesantren has played an active role in building the character of future leaders of the nation since the colonial era.
On this occasion, Bahlil also conveyed the government's commitment to always be present and help the pesantren world. He mentioned several programs that are part of the government's efforts.
Examples of government support mentioned include the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program and the scholarship struggle of the Education Fund Management Institution or LPDP which is also directed at students.
"This is part of the government's efforts under the leadership of President Prabowo, not only for public schools but also directed that the students in the pesantren also feel the benefits," said Bahlil.
Bahlil fully believes that boarding school children have qualities that are not inferior, even potentially better, than public school students. However, he said that so far the LPDP has never seriously touched or given special attention to the santri community.
"I think we have to do this, we keep voicing it so that good decisions can be made, after all they are also children of the nation," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
