MPR CHAIRMAN: RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IS STRATEGIC FOR THE NATION

Bandung, W Java, Dec 3 (ANTARA) - Religious education especially Islam has a strategic role to play for the nation in carrying out the mission of national education in this world largest archipelagic country, a senior officer says.

Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid made the remarks during a seminar on the strategic role of Islamic education in a bid to improve the nation's competitiveness, here on Wednesday.
According to him, the role of Islamic education in this country should be aimed at building a strong attitude and identity of educatees, to instill knowledge and to build pious character and high care with a good vision for the sake of the nation and the people.
In Islamic education, the meanings and values on Islamic way of life is the main target of the education, he said.
It was said that the essence of Islamic education lies in teaching, training, directing, caring and developing the potentials of educatees in the framework of grooming them to be able to realize their functions.
Therefore, according to him, education in this country should be directed at increasing piousness to Allah in a bid to solidify relations to God and also improving abilities in social interaction among human beings.

Hidayat was also of the opinion that education was a process of empowering the people to build a civilization which would converge in a manifestation of a better order of a mentally and physically prosperous community.

In principle, according to him, Islamic education is aimed at developing the potentials of people optimally, so that the participating educatees would be able to keep the mandate well, to become leaders in the world.***7***