Deputy Speaker Urges Pesantren to Embrace Technology

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal has stressed the importance of digital transformation across all Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren) in Indonesia. He stated that pesantren must become adaptive and welcoming towards the development of information technology in order to meet the challenges of the times. One educational institution he highlighted was Pondok Pesantren Al-Husaeni Cihelang. Cucun added that students (santri) must be adaptive amidst the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and various other new technological concepts to maintain their competitiveness in the future. “Pesantren must now be adaptive to the development of information technology. I want pesantren to be friendly towards the development of information technology because of the future challenges. AI has now emerged, and various new technological concepts have been born that must be adapted to and matched by the santri in the pesantren,” he said in an official statement on Tuesday (16/6). Despite the need to adapt to technological changes, Cucun also expressed hope that this would not diminish the traditional values of the pesantren. He hopes that the presence of information technology, supported by pesantren values, will further strengthen the position of the santri in the future. Furthermore, he hopes that with proficient technological mastery, santri can become superior human resources ready to face global dynamics. In addition to advising santri at Pondok Pesantren Al-Husaeni Cihelang, during his visit to Ciparay, Cucun also inspected a subsidised food market for the residents of Cihelang Village. The market was organised in cooperation with the House of Representatives and the National Food Agency (Bappanas). “We will also cooperate with Bulog and the Food Security Agency in the regencies and cities of West Java. I also urge my colleagues, especially those in the BKB, both at the national House of Representatives, the provincial House of Representatives, and the regency/city Houses of Representatives, to hold such subsidised markets in every sub-district and village in Bandung Regency,” he said. He expressed hope that the presence of the subsidised market would help ease the burden on the community in meeting their daily needs.