Minister for Social Affairs Shares Stories of Interfaith Tolerance Among Students in Public Schools During Ramadan

Minister for Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf shared stories of interfaith tolerance amongst students at public schools during Ramadan. He stated that the spirit of tolerance is well maintained in public schools for students of different religions.

“For example, in Kupang, there is a Muslim child. But she is accepted well; in fact, when she wants to go to the prayer room, sometimes her friends take her there. Initially, she was hesitant, thinking ‘I am Muslim alone wearing a hijab, perhaps I will be bullied,’ but it turns out that did not happen,” said the man commonly known as Gus Ipul, speaking at detikcom’s Holy Month Inspiration event, as quoted on Monday (9 March 2026).

He noted that there are religious education programmes during Ramadan, such as Tarawih prayers and Quran recitation sessions for Muslim students. Non-Muslim students adjust their learning process whilst maintaining tolerance.

“They have 24-hour education, so there is a schedule for deepening religious knowledge, where Muslim friends naturally have additional extracurricular hours with Tarawih prayers. Then there are Quran recitation sessions for Muslim students. Meanwhile, non-Muslim students make adjustments,” said Gus Ipul.

“I am pleased because I have visited almost all the public schools, not all of them yet, but some, and the spirit of tolerance there is quite evident,” he said.

Gus Ipul also shared a story of tolerance amongst public school students in Jakarta. He stated that public school students felt comfortable being accepted by their peers despite religious differences.

“Then here in Jakarta, in Pondok Indah, the majority are Muslim, and one of them is Catholic or Christian. I asked them to share their testimony about how they have been there, ‘Initially I was hesitant, but it turned out I was accepted well,’ and the spirit of tolerance is present,” he said.

“In the fasting month, of course there are additional activities, but the spirit of tolerance continues to be developed there. How non-Muslim students accompany their Muslim friends, whilst Muslim students understand and must recognise that around them there are people who are not fasting — this spirit is also continuously developed. So this spirit exists,” added Gus Ipul.

The Holy Month Inspiration initiative welcomed the holy month of Ramadan, with detikcom bringing together national figures to share knowledge during the blessed month. The event presents solutions, strategic thinking, and values of virtue relevant to national development.