Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin stated that pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools) should also become centers of economic empowerment, not only centers of education and religious propagation that produce Islamic preachers.
VP Ma'ruf Amin madehis remarkes as he inaugurated the One Pesantren One Product (OPOP) South Kalimantan Expo 2022 at Dr. Murjani Field, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Thursday.
"The two functions of pesantren are to produce Islamic preachers, as well as (serve as) centers for community economic empowerment. Since in the past, pesantren have had two functions, namely providing religious scholars and preparing fighters for the homeland," the Vice President added.
He said that since the beginning, Islamic boarding schools have given birth to scholars and, at the same time, produced fighters who have defended their homeland.
If in the colonial era, pesantren produced fighters who fought for independence, now pesantren must produce fighters in a different context, which is by building prosperity, eliminating poverty and inequality especially among the lower classes.
"Therefore, the spirit of struggle as a fighter for the homeland must be revived through efforts to empower pesantren and through OPOP," Amin said.
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Currently, there are Islamic boarding schools that have become direct buyers (off-takers) of commodities such as agricultural and plantation products produced by the community and formed partnerships to expand the marketing of superior products or services.
There even are those whose products have been able to penetrate the export market.
He said he hopes that the existing successes can be replicated by pesantren in other areas.
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It is hoped that the one-product Islamic boarding school program, popularly called the OPOP program, can become a movement that provides impetus to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) in Indonesia to become more advanced, productive, and competitive, he said.
He lauded the South Kalimantan OPOP program pilot involving Islamic boarding schools and the local government, which also saw active involvement from various stakeholders, including partners.
"By saying Bismillahirahmanirrahim, I officially declare that the OPOP South Kalimantan Expo 2022 is opened. May Allah SWT always give his aid and bless all the efforts we make," the Vice President remarked.
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