Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs will immediately build an integrated madrasah (Islamic school) at the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara, East Kalimantan, at the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

The integrated madrasah includes madrasah ibtidaiyah (elementary school level), madrasah tsanawiyah (junior high school level), and madrasah aliyah (high school level).

"Several days ago, (I was) asked by the president to build an integrated school in IKN, from madrasah ibtidaiyah to madrasah aliyah," Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas noted in a written statement received here on Wednesday.

Qoumas conveyed the statement at the Coordination Meeting of the Heads of Religious Affairs Ministry's Regional Offices of East Kalimantan in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan, Wednesday.

The minister spoke of having called on the ministry's Directorate General of Islamic Education to follow up on the project.

He urged the regional office heads in East Kalimantan to coordinate regarding the construction of the integrated madrasah in terms of the budget, location, and other technical aspects.

He expressed hope that the construction project would be realized in 2023, thereby necessitating swift action of all relevant parties.

"There are only 10 months left this year. Thus, all (parties) must work hand in hand in order to realize the task from the president," he remarked.

The minister laid emphasis on paying attention to several aspects in the project, including the requirement for vast land. Qoumas appealed to his staff to immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing regarding this matter.

"The president urged that the Independence Day (commemoration) ceremony be held in IKN next year. To this end, we need to support it by readying facilities, one of which is this integrated school," he stated.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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