REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin urged to strengthen religious education in border areas.
"The border areas are a reflection of our existence, and this aspect must be visible," Saifuddin stated during a seminar on Religious Education in the Frontier State here on Thursday.
According to Saifuddin, the outer areas should reflect Indonesia. Therefore, the outermost regions should largely represent Indonesia, including its religious values.
"Through efforts to strengthen religious education and institutions, religious values can be upheld. The existence of Indonesia can be preserved," the minister affirmed.
Moreover, the minister highlighted the importance of increasing the number and capacity of human resources in these areas.
Saifuddin called on the ministries and state institutions to increase cooperation to strengthen religious education in border areas.
"We have religious institutions, but there is no electricity and mobile network. Moreover, these areas lack proper road infrastructure. Synergy among ministries and agencies is necessary as the institutions also have programs focused on border areas," the minister affirmed.
In addition, he noted that the community should be involved in strengthening religious education and institutions.
"We are making efforts to reinforce this, and it should involve the community," he remarked.