The statement was based on data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs in 2020 that showed 2,439 Islamic Boarding School Cooperatives (Kopontren) were active in Indonesia.
"I hope the presence of Kopontren would not only produce students with reliable religious knowledge but also young entrepreneurs, who contribute to the community's economy," Masduki noted during the inauguration of the management and supervisors of the main Kopontren/Inkopontren for the 2021-2026 period, as quoted in a press statement here on Wednesday.
The minister noted that Indonesia had 27,722 Islamic boarding schools comprising 4.2 million students. In line with the mandate of Law Number 18 of 2019, Islamic boarding schools not only function as educational and dakwah institutions but also empower the economy of students and the surrounding community.
Masduki expects the event to produce management and supervisory boards that are modern, increasingly developing, and pushing the potential of Kopontren to become a business holding as well as contributing to the national economy.
"Kopontren has vast potential to become the economic strength of people if its managerial capabilities and business networks are improved,” the minister affirmed.
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Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Inkopontren, Sandiaga Uno, remarked that since five years, inkopontren has been reorganized, so it has licensing administration and other business institutions, including technology.
"This inkopontren lends optimism and reflects a business entity. I think this is not only an opportunity to maintain a business entity but also to take the opportunity as a winner," he remarked.
Uno suggested that inkopontren can be combined with existing programs in his ministry, for instance, the digitalpreneur students program.
The platform aims to edify students to hone their technical and non-technical abilities in the digital economy and creative products.
"All participants have the opportunity to take up internships. This (opportunity) can be used not only to develop businesses but also as a means of tarbiyah and dakwah through digital platforms," the minister remarked.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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