REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Minister of State for Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Helmy Faishal Zaini, urged the chairman of pesantren (Islamic boarding school –Ed) to boost the development in disadvantaged areas. “The role in boosting the development in disadvantaged area can strengthen our national unity,” Zaini said when he visited Pesantren Buntet, Cirebon, West Java.

In his visit, he also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pesantren Buntet over the nursing academy owned by the pesantren. Both parties make a cooperation to send health workers to boost the development in east region, the disadvantaged area.

He added, Pesantren Buntet contribution to community was big. “We were right to choose this pesantren to boost the development by sending health workers who also achieve religious education,” Zaini said.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of Islamic Unity (Persis), Irfan Safrudin, said it was important for pesantren to contribute to community. Persis builds a good interaction with the people including in economy and vice versa.

Pesantren also offers scholarship to the poor. “In disadvantaged area, we do it through the alumni,” Safrudin said. Many alumni come back to their region and build a pesantren. “With the pesantren, they give contribution to people, whether through religious education or social activity,” he said.

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