Gus Ipul Urges Pesantren Leaders to Support the Implementation of People's Schools
Social Affairs Minister of Indonesia Saifullah Yusuf, or Gus Ipul, has urged pesantren caretakers across Madura Raya to help succeed President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes, particularly in updating social data and implementing People’s Schools.
The invitation was delivered by Gus Ipul during the Dialogue on Collaboration for the President’s Priority Programmes held at UIN Madura, Pamekasan, East Java, on Sunday, 10 May 2026.
“I want to invite all the kyai to participate in updating the data. If the kyai have students, and the students have information, please enter it into the data system we have,” said Gus Ipul in front of pesantren caretakers, sub-district heads, village heads, PKH companions, village data operators, and representatives of social welfare institutions.
Gus Ipul’s presence at the location was welcomed by a joint performance from students of Integrated People’s School (SRT) 49 Sumenep and People’s Junior High School (SRMP) 29 Pamekasan. The students performed hadrah, recitation of holy Quranic verses, speeches, choir, poetry, and a simulation of digital learning using a smart board.
In his direction, Gus Ipul emphasised that data plays a very important role in the success of government programmes. Therefore, updating the National Single Social-Economic Data (DTSEN) must continue to be carried out so that assistance and community empowerment programmes are on target.
“Alhamdulillah, Pamekasan is one of the districts that cares about data,” he said.
He explained that the data updating process can be done through formal channels starting from RT/RW, village heads or sub-district heads, to regional social services. In addition, the public can also participate through the Cek Bansos application, social companions, Command Center, or WhatsApp Center services.
Besides data issues, Gus Ipul also requested support from religious scholars and pesantren caretakers to accompany the implementation of the People’s Schools programme in Madura, especially in strengthening character and religious education.
“We ask for prayers and blessings for the implementation of People’s Schools on Madura Island. We ask for accompaniment, advice, criticism, and input,” he said.
According to him, kyai and ustadz are expected to be directly involved in student development, especially in the boarding school system which is an important part of shaping the character of students.
“In the future, I want the kyai to strengthen character building in the boarding school. Insya Allah, alternately, the educator ustadz can fill in,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pamekasan Regent Kholilurrahman assessed the activity as an important momentum to strengthen collaboration in supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes.
“We all understand that the success of social assistance and community empowerment programmes very much depends on one fundamental thing, namely valid data, fair data, and data that reflects the real conditions of the community in the field,” said Kholilurrahman.
The event was also attended by a number of Ministry of Social Affairs officials, Forkopimda of Pamekasan Regency, Nahdlatul Ulama branch executives across Madura Raya, as well as academics and other community figures.