Jepara, NU Online
Minister of Education and Culture Mohammad Nuh inaugurated the Balekambang Community Academy (AKB) at Pesantren Roudlotul Mubtadiin Balekambang, Gemiring Lor village, Nalumsari subdistrict, Jepara, Central Java, on Wednesday (01/01).<>

Nuh said that the AKB was a continuation of pesantren vocational high school (SMK), adding the existence of SMK Balekambang had brought tremendous impact on society at large.

"I have never found pesantren-based vocational high school growing rapidly. Well I found it at SMK Balekambang," he told thousands of attendees, saying that the AKB was aimed to improve the skills of those living in pesantren (santri) so that they become self-reliant and will be able to work for himself and others and play a major role in build Indonesia in the future.

Of these developments, he disapproved any assumption that pesantren vocational high schools have run slowly so far instead of meeting the expecetd targets. 

In light of the education development in Balekambang, Nuh was of the opinion it was part of NU efforts in addressing the need of having and managing outstanding and competitive education institutions.

The man born in Surabaya in 1959 added when the earth was inhabited by pious people, all of their thoughts would result in tremendous creativity for being obtained and littered fully with the spirit of honesty. 

The minister said the honesty was the character of santri who are ready to come to power in entrusted to become the future leaders. 

Present on the occasion were Ahmad Jazidie (Director for Institutional and Collaboration Affairs on behalf of the Directorate General of Higher Education), H Fathur Rokhman (Rector of Unnes) , H Noor Ahmad (Rector of Unwahas), Supriyadi (Director of Polines), H Ahmad Marzuqi (Regent of Jepara), H Muhdi Zamru (Head of Japara's Ministry of Religious Affairs), and H Mas'un Duri (Commission C of Jepara's Regional House of Representatives).

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq