When Islamic Boarding Schools Reopen, The Ministry Of Religion Must Think Of Ways To Prevent New Clusters

Santri Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Religion (Menag) Fachrul Razi is reconsidering the opening of the pesantren in this new era of normality. Previously, Fahcrul planned to open a place of worship.

A number of parties have asked the Ministry of Religion to prepare a health protocol before opening a pesantren.

Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Marwan Dasopang stated that there must be clear steps from the government so that students can immediately receive education at the pesantren.

"The government must look for steps in the program category called the new normalcy," Marwan said when contacted by VOI, Friday, May 29.

Marwan said that implementing health protocols became an obligation when the students returned to the hut in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition, to prevent transmission of the virus in Islamic boarding schools, the politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB) asked students to carry out a rapid test and a swab test, which was followed by a test of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

"It needs to be ensured, the return of the students to the boarding school is all healthy. After being in the pesantren environment, (the students) are ensured that their health is well maintained and not disturbed from the outside world," he said.

To run this test, he continued, pesantren need a lot of money because the number of students is not small. Therefore, the government needs to pay attention to this issue.

"That is what we hope for the state to be present. The present state prepares its budget, 'yes, it will be handled by the Ministry of Health'," said Marwan.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Marsudi Syuhud said that Islamic boarding schools have many students and this is a challenge in implementing a safe distance policy.

Marsudi said, maintaining a safe distance for students can be implemented when they are carrying out learning activities in class by dividing their class shift. "But when you're in the room, on average you can't. Well, when you can't social distancing, what should you do," he said.

In addition, for Marsudi, when the government reopens the pesantren, there must be clear rules for students and teachers who will return to the boarding school after returning to their respective regions.

"Well, those who can and who know, have the government's obligations. For that, the government must provide (rules)," he said.

Plans to open a pesantren

The government through the Ministry of Religion will reopen houses of worship by issuing health protocols which are planned to be implemented on Friday, May 29. Apart from opening houses of worship, the Minister of Religion also hopes that the government can immediately reopen Islamic boarding schools in stages.

"The task of the Ministry of Religion is related to pesantren in the new normal era, to gradually re-operationalize the pesantren that have made it possible," said Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi in Jakarta, Thursday, May 28.

He ensured that the reopening of this boarding school would certainly still pay attention to health protocols. This policy was taken, said Fachrul, because it took into account the welfare of the teachers and caregivers of the pesantren affected by this pagebluk.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs, continued Fachrul, is ready to send a team to inspect Islamic boarding schools, especially in terms of maintaining distance. Because, maintaining distance is one of the important steps in preventing this virus.

He also said that President Joko Widodo had advised that there should be no new clusters in the pesantren environment due to this policy so that everything must be prepared carefully.

"We hope that the pesantren can start operating again as in the past by paying attention to the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak and paying attention to the instructions of President Joko Widodo, so that we should not be reckless, instead of harming our children," he concluded.