TEMPO.CO, Kediri - Government claimed to provide financial assistance to creative economy business development in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). Pesantren management expects that it is not just lip service.

Asdiana, Presidential expert staff of inter-ministries program and budget synergy, Presidential Staff Office, said that the government open up opportunities to all pesantren, especially Nahdlatul Ulama pesantren in East Java to obtain assistance. "It can be in the form of financial assistance, training, or equipment," Asdiana said in Kediri on Saturday (16/9).

The assistance, Asdiana continued, will be provided in 2018 Budget allocation. Therefore, pesantren management is required to immediately submit a proposal based on its potentials to the government. This program indicates Joko Widodo administration’s support to both traditional (tsalaf) and modern pesantren in Indonesia.

East Java Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic Boarding School Association chairman Ahmad Reza Zahid, or Gus Reza, expects that pesantren can actually make the best out of this program. Tsalaf pesantren in East Java holds a lot of potentials in developing creative economy independently in the field of agriculture, cattle, to crafts. "They have been struggling by themselves to support their schools," Gus Reza said.

HARI TRI WASONO