Indonesian Vice President launches 2022 Baznas Santri Scholarship

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin launched the 2022 National Zakat Agency (Baznas) Santri Scholarship on Saturday at the Vice President’s Palace to coincide with the commemoration of 2022 Santri Day.

“Thank God, in this place, on Santri Day, the 2022 Baznas Santri Scholarship was launched,” Amin noted during the launch.

The vice president remarked that the launch of the Baznas Santri Scholarship was part of the movement and struggle of students in the country.

According to Amin, the dedication of Islamic boarding school students — or santri — for the country is boundless. All through life, the santri have struggled for independence, expelled invaders, and defended that independence.

He urged the agency to improve scholarship that had been given to thousands of students.

“Baznas Santri scholarships are expected to encourage poverty reduction programs. Through education, not only are students developing but their families are also improving economically and also people around Islamic boarding schools and their surroundings are helped,” he remarked.

The vice president advised outstanding students, who received scholarships, to complete their education in Islamic boarding schools on time and pursue higher education, especially in state universities and other favorite universities.

He expected that in future, the students could become technocrats, bureaucrats, and leaders of Indonesia, just like President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur.

“We are waiting for you to become the future cadres of the professional nation and become future leaders of the nation and state. By saying God’s name, I declare that the 2022 Baznas Santri Scholarship is officially launched,” he noted.

The launch of the Baznas Santri Scholarship was marked by the pressing of a siren button.

Chairman of the National Zakat Agency Noor Ahmad said in his report that his side would like to thank the vice president for the opportunity to launch the Baznas Santri Scholarship at the Vice Presidential Palace.

“We feel it is very important to hold a launch event for the 2022 Baznas Santri Scholarship at the Vice President’s Palace and launched by the vice president, who is the Father of Indonesian Santri because santri have a very long history. The existence of education in Indonesia cannot be separated from the role of the students themselves,” Ahmad remarked.

Some 2,500 scholarships were offered, so students could continue their education at universities.

The agency will also launch 300 scholarships for students, who will continue their education at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.