Jakarta – The Indonesian federal government will carry out an accreditation program for Muslim preachers to boost their capacity, though the program is not binding, Director General for Islamic Community Assistance of the Religious Affairs Ministry Kamaruddin Amin mentioned.
The ministry will assist in capacity structure for preachers of other religious beliefs, he kept in mind in a press declaration here on Monday.
The Muslim preacher accreditation program will be implemented to improve the capacity of some 50 thousand spiritual trainers, or preachers, and 10 thousand marriage registrars under the Directorate General of Islamic Neighborhood Assistance.
In action to extensive criticism emerging over the ministry’s preacher accreditation program, Amin clarified that the preacher certification program would not resemble an expert accreditation.
” This certification of preachers is not an expert certification like the university lecturer and instructor certifications. Those for teachers and speakers are professional certifications, so if they are currently accredited, they need to be paid in accordance with the set requirements,” he stated.
The capability structure program concentrates on improving public services in terms of handling zakat and waqf in addition to promoting religious small amounts, he mentioned.
The program’s individuals will get certificates.
Previously, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Anwar Abbas was vocal in revealing his criticism to the federal government’s strategy to run the preacher accreditation program.
” I, Anwar Abbas, also the secretary general of MUI, personally hereby firmly and strongly reject the program of preacher and speaker certification to be executed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs that will involve the MUI,” he noted, adding that he would bypass his MUI post if the government were to run the program.
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