Serang I, September 27, 2025 - The Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. KH. Nasaruddin Umar, M.A, attended the Briefing of the Minister of Religious Affairs to the Leaders of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Banten Province, Saturday, September 27, 2025, FEBI Hall, Tirtayasa University, Serang Banten. The Minister of Religious Affairs said in his briefing that as a strategic region and close to the capital city of Jakarta, Banten has an important role in maintaining national stability and progress. Therefore, it is important for us to build and strengthen educational infrastructure in Banten, such as UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten and the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Banten Province, so that Banten's cultural and religious treasures are maintained and developed in their own region, not in Jakarta or the Netherlands.
Strengthening UIN Banten
UIN Banten needs to be strengthened as a higher education institution with quality and integrity. With good cooperation between UIN Banten and Banten Regional Office, we can improve the quality of education and research in the field of religion and science. In addition, UIN Banten can become a center for the development of local wisdom and preservation of Banten culture, such as the pilgrimage to the grave of the wali and the long mulud of the Prophet as a religious tourism destination.
Cooperation and Lobbying
Cooperation with the Provincial and District/City Governments of Banten is very important in developing Banten society. Lobbying to increase the education budget and develop education infrastructure also needs to be done. In addition, cooperation with institutions both foreign and domestic can help improve the quality of education and research in Banten.
Through education, quality human resources can be developed to build Banten's society. By providing scholarships and adequate training, we can improve the quality of graduates and enhance their abilities in religion and science. UIN Banten alumni can become qualified cadres of scholars and play an important role in building Banten society.
Religious Harmony
Religious harmony is very important in building Banten society. Therefore, we need to maintain harmony and tolerance between religious communities. Thus, we can create a harmonious and peaceful environment in Banten.
Some concrete steps that can be taken to build Banten society through education and harmony are as follows. First, improve the quality of higher education at UIN Banten and madrasah and pesantren education at the Banten Regional Office. Second, increasing synergistic and productive cooperation between UIN Banten and Banten Regional Office. Third, provide adequate scholarships and training (both overseas and domestic) to improve the quality of graduates. Fourth, developing local wisdom and preservation of Banten culture as a treasure of human civilization. Fifth, maintaining inter-religious harmony and tolerance where friction between religions in Banten often hardens as a buffer zone for the capital Jakarta. Sixth, increase lobbying to increase the education budget and develop educational infrastructure.
By taking these concrete steps, we can build Banten society into an advanced, religious, harmonious region, as well as improve the quality of education and religious harmony.
