"I think we should be thankful for this. It will be a place to compete in advancing our education quality," said Abu Rokhmad, the ministry's Acting Secretary General, on Thursday.
He said that Widyalaya will impart not only general and mandatory knowledge but also religious knowledge to students. He also encouraged Hindu families to entrust Widyalaya institutions with their children's education.
"Are Hindus keen to send their children to Widyalaya? Do our Hindus trust the educational institutions they initiate on their own? We would prove this," he said.
Rokhmad expressed the hope that Widyalaya will serve as an education solution for residents and create intelligent, skilled, moral, wise, and religious pupils.
He also commended the ministry's Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance for initiating the fundamental educational breakthrough.
Director General I Nengah Duija expressed gratitude for the establishment of Widyalaya as part of efforts to bolster education for Indonesian Hindus.
"We also express gratitude to President Joko Widodo and Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for the Widyalaya institution that has been awaited for a long time by Hindus throughout Indonesia," Duija added.
The Widyalaya educational institution is distinct from Pasraman education, which focuses on Hindu religious teachings. It will run parallel with the existing Madrasah institution for Indonesian Muslims.
Widyalaya offers early-age education (Pratama Widyalaya), primary education (Adi Widyalaya), junior secondary education (Madyama Widyalaya), and senior secondary education (Utama Widyalaya) or vocational Widyalaya.
So far, 105 formal Pasraman institutions in 34 provinces nationwide have been converted into Widyalaya institutions based on Decision No. 70-176 of 2024, dated March 7, 2024.
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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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