...we propose that it can be implemented in 2023.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry is striving to include the endowment fund for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in Presidential Regulation Number 111 of 2021 concerning the endowment fund in the education sector without delay to improve pesantrens’ quality.
"We continue to coordinate with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture to revise the presidential regulation, thus the (provision of) pesantrens’ endowment fund can be included (in the regulation)," Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said during a meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) here on Wednesday.
The minister made the statement in response to a proposal from one of the members of the commission, Hidayat Nur Wahid, for using the pesantren endowment fund as soon as possible.
The House member said he expected the fund to be utilized in 2023.
The fund can be used to improve the quality of pesantrens’ human resources, both students and teachers, he added.
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Moreover, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has signed Presidential Regulation Number 82 of 2021 on funding for the operation of Islamic boarding schools.
"It is important to realize it (the provision of the pesantrens’ endowment fund), and we propose that it can be implemented in 2023," Wahid said.
According to Qoumas, the provision of the endowment fund for pesantren has been integrated into the Indonesia Endowment Funds for Education (LPDP)—the Finance Ministry’s public service agency, which manages an education fund scheme to financially support Indonesian students to receive higher education. However, it requires more adequate regulation, he added.
Under Presidential Regulation Number 111 of 2021, the provision of the education endowment fund managed by LPDP only covers research, education, higher education, and culture purposes.
Thus, the minister said, the pesantren endowment fund has not been explained in detail in the regulation.
To encourage it, his ministry will coordinate with all stakeholders to revise the regulation soon and outline the issue of the pesantren endowment fund.
"Indeed, the pesantren endowment fund, which has been mandated, has not been included in the presidential regulation," he added.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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