Education quality key to Muhammadiyah's progress in West Java, says deputy minister
The Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Fajar Riza Ul Haq, stated that enhancing educational quality is the key for Muhammadiyah in West Java to strengthen competitiveness and maintain public trust.
During a visit to Cimahi on Saturday, Deputy Minister Fajar conveyed that improving quality is vital so that Muhammadiyah can produce a superior generation capable of facing the challenges of change.
“The flame of enlightenment for Muhammadiyah West Java must continue to burn through educational quality, ensuring Muhammadiyah schools are able to produce a generation that is excellent, characterised, and ready to face the challenges of the changing times,” he said.
He noted that the development of educational business units must focus on improving learning quality, innovation, and educational services, as competition between schools is now increasingly determined by the quality perceived by the community.
“Educational competition today is increasingly determined by quality, innovation, good service, and public trust; therefore, all Muhammadiyah schools need to continuously improve the quality of their educational services,” he added.
Fajar expressed his appreciation for the achievements of Muhammadiyah schools in West Java, particularly at the Junior High School (SMP) level, where more than 80 per cent have achieved ‘A’ accreditation.
Nevertheless, he assessed that improving quality at the Primary School (SD) and Senior High School (SMA) levels remains a significant task to be addressed.
He also believed that school development must be carried out through mature planning, innovation, and sustainability to respond to changing community needs and developments in educational technology.
“Do not simply rely on ‘bismillah’ to open a school. Muhammadiyah schools must be built with planning, quality, innovation, and sustainability so that they can continue to grow and be trusted by the community,” said Fajar.
He added that private schools managed by the community, including Muhammadiyah, are strategic partners of the government in expanding access and improving national educational quality through sustainable collaboration.
He expressed hope that these efforts would serve as a collective step towards enhancing sustainable and competitive educational quality.