Semarang (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, has highlighted the need to adopt a new approach to reduce poverty in Indonesia.
“Education is the most effective way to break the chain of poverty,” the minister said at an open dialogue held at State Islamic University (UIN) Walisongo Semarang in Central Java on Thursday.
According to Iskandar, the social assistance (bansos) scheme must focus on social empowerment. “The government does not want to just maintain poverty rates with social assistance worth Rp500 trillion. We want to change their conditions,” he said.
This can be possible with the support of educational institutions, including Islamic boarding schools, which must be the main actors in the empowerment program, he added.
The minister further explained that Islamic boarding schools are strategic places where children from poor families can obtain an education.
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“We are preparing 100 Islamic boarding school-based Sekolah Rakyat. Later, the children will break the chain of poverty in their families,” he said.
The minister also described UIN Walisongo as one of the most meritorious campuses supporting the transformation of human resources at Islamic boarding schools and students.
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Meanwhile, the rector of UIN, Prof. Nizar, emphasized the commitment of the university to continue to encourage the community empowerment agenda, including through Islamic boarding schools.
He said that empowerment cannot be achieved alone, but requires collaboration between Islamic boarding schools as centers of community empowerment, the government, academics, banks, and business actors.
