Participants told to be nahdliyin anywhere they are

Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siradj (Kang Said) told some 25 teachers of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) willing to participate in a short course in the United Kingdom to firmly be nahdliyin (NU followers) anywhere they are.
 
"Please maintain NU values with its tolerance, moderation, ritual and good reputation," Kang Said told the participants at the PBNU headquarters, Jakarta, Thurday (21/2).<>

Speaking before the participants representing their own pesantren across the country, he said that the prophetic duties of the Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization was not only for worshiping and practicing  legacies but also for building civilization.

"Tahlilan (repeated recitation of the confession of faith) has been conducted without being organized by the NU, yet it is on how to build civilized humans whose high quality," he said.

The sending of pesantren's teachers to the UK aimed at studying education management is part of efforts to increase education quality in both schools and pesantrens.

The prospective participants would study subjects dealing with curriculum, school finance, marketing, operational, human resources and so on at University of Leeds, UK. In addition there would reportedly be such visit programs and dialogue with other faiths.

"We must be able to differentiate between Jewish and Zionist," Kang Said said, adding that there would be a dialogue with the UK's Jews. 

The purposeful program is initiated by the PBNU in collaboration with the UK through its Indonesia-based British Council. So far there have been some 112 people leaving for the UK since 2003. (mkf)