The National Education System Bill has given ample attention to the (Islamic educational unit) ecosystems. The nomenclature of madrasas and Islamic boarding schools is also included in the body and articles of the National Education System Bill
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Madrasas under the Religious Affairs Ministry's authority will remain included in the National Education System Bill, according to Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim.



There is no desire or plan to remove madrasas or other forms of educational units from the National Education System, he said.

In a joint written statement with the Religious Affairs Ministry, here on Wednesday, he dismissed the idea as nonsensical and said it never once crossed their minds.



Minister Makarim emphasized that both schools and madrasas would substantially remain a part of educational institutions regulated by the revised National Education System Bill.

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He said that they were offering flexibility, as the law would not limit educational units based on their type or titles.



Later, specific names such as Elementary School (SD) and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI), Junior High School (SMP) and Madrasah Tsanawiyah (Mts), or High School (SMA), Vocational High School (SMK), and Madrasah Aliyah (MA) would no longer be set in stone, which is the law, as a form of this flexibility.



Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that his ministry has continued to collaborate with the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry since the beginning of the bill's revision process.

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"The National Education System Bill has given ample attention to the (Islamic educational unit) ecosystems. The nomenclature of madrasas and Islamic boarding schools is also included in the body and articles of the National Education System Bill," he added.



Qoumas said he believes that by promoting independence and flexibility in the National Education System Bill, the quality of learning for all students in Indonesia would improve.



"The quality of our education system would also improve in the future," he added.


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Translator: Indriani, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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