Ministry of Social Affairs Ensures Teachers and Students of Islamic Boarding Schools are Helped During the Pandemic

JAKARTA (July 2, 2020) - Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara accompanied by the Director General of Social Empowerment Edi Suharto handed over 3,300 packages of Basic Food Social Assistance for teachers and students at the Daarul Rahman Islamic Boarding School in South Jakarta. A total of 300 packages of Presidential Basic Food Assistance and 3,000 packages of Social Assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs are expected to help meeting the basic needs of the boarding school.

The Minister of Social Affairs ensures that teachers and students who find it difficult to get basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic can be met.

"This assistance provided means nothing compared to the contribution of Kyai and Islamic boarding schools to the state. We, the government, are very interested in Islamic Boarding Schools because this is where the nation's leaders are born," said the Social Minister.

Furthermore, the Minister of Social Affairs advised all students at the Daarul Rahman Islamic Boarding School to have a disciplined attitude.

"The first leader can lead himself first with discipline. There is no successful nation, no successful person without discipline. We must not be discouraged, hang our ideals as high as the sky and believe that everything can be done," the Social Minister message to the students .

Daarul Rahman Islamic Boarding School was established on January 11, 1975 on a waqf area of ​​approximately 5,085 M2 in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. The caretaker of the Daarul Rahman Islamic Boarding School Prof. KH, Syukron Ma'mun revealed that the pesantren was established as a form of concern for the poor, so that they can continue to receive education.

"I am very happy with this meeting. The Minister of Social Affairs, who has a social spirit, visited this Islamic Boarding School. This Minister of Social Affairs was the first Minister to visit Daarul Rahman Islamic Boarding School. Indeed, I founded this Islamic Boarding School on social concerns. What I think about is they should not be poor and also stupid, so that the less fortunate people in the surrounding environment can send their children to school here," explained KH Syukron Ma'mun.

One of the teachers of the Daarul Rahman Islamic boarding school, Muhammad Hilman, also thanked the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"This Islamic boarding school with thousands of students requires a lot of food supplies where during the COVID-19 pandemic it is very difficult to supply. These thousands of students really need government assistance such as this basic food package," said Hilman.

One of the students from Southeast Maluku, Yusri Iza, was also grateful for the food assistance received at the Islamic boarding school. Iza cannot return to her hometown during this pandemic.

"I am proud and grateful for the assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Because of this pandemic wherever we are, we help each other and need each other. I am once again very grateful and hopefully can help the basic needs of this Islamic Boarding School," said Iza.

Islamic boarding schools are expected to be able to prepare a new life order (new normal). Starting from cleanliness, preparation of health services, implementation of health protocols, to protocols for teaching and learning activities to be safe and avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Present at the event were the Director of Management of Social Aid Fund Resources, the Director of Heroism, Pioneering, Solidarity and Social Restoration, Technical Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs for Social Protection and Security, Head of Sub-Directorate of MPN, TMP and TMPNU, leaders and caregivers of Daarul Islamic Boarding School, and and the Deputy Secretary General of GP Ansar.