Hundreds of santri competing to get the overseas scholarships at UIN Jakarta

Ciputat, UIN News Online – 475 santri from various Islamic boarding schools from various regions in Sumatra, Banten and West Java participated in the selection of the Overseas Student Achievement Scholarship Program (PBSB) at UIN Jakarta, Tuesday (05/14/2019). They were part of 992 students participating in the selection of the Ministry of Religion's Foreign PBSB with the aim of studying at al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

Along with several other educational institutions, UIN Jakarta is believed to be one of the locations for the overseas PBSB examinations. Others, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung for 105 santri, MAN 1 Semarang for 111 santri, ITS Surabaya for 203 santri, and MAN 2 Model Makassar for 98 santri.

The selection process itself is carried out starting at 08.00 WIB in the morning. Because selection is done using a computer-based examination system or Computer Based Test (CBT) system, the students take part in a number of computers learning classes, both at the Information Technology Center and the UIN Jakarta Integrated Laboratory Center.

Based on UIN News Online Observation, In addition to the academic and Arabic and English potential tests, the exam material that must be done by the participants is a test of the kepesantrenan, which covers the Indonesian Islam heritages and the substance of Islamic studies. In addition, they also received a study ability test. Most of the material is given in Arabic.

Director of the Early Childhood Education and Islamic Boarding School, Ministry of Religious Affairs Ahmad Zayadi, who reviewed the selection activities revealed, this year's Foreign PBSB set a quota of 30 participants to pass the selection to be lectured at Cairo's al-Azhar University. At this university, the students who pass the selection will study under the Ministry of Religious Affairs scholarship, starting from training scholarships before leaving, transportation, tuition fees, living expenses, dormitories, and books until they finish their studies.

"This year, the Directorate General of Islamic Education has allocated a full scholarship to Al-Azhar Cairo. This is a new breakthrough. We hope that there will be more choices on prestigious campuses in other countries in the future," he explained.

The selection itself, he explained, was carried out in two phases. The first phase included Arabic and English examinations and Islamic knowledge of the santri. Santri who passed the first selection phase will be included in the second phaseof selection which consists of the ability to speak Arabic and memorize the Koran. In the second stage, participants will be tested directly by examiners from al-Azhar University.

Furthermore, participants who passed the second phase will be included in activities to strengthen their ability to speak Arabic. The agenda, the last activity was held at the end of next June. This program is expected to improve the ability of students to speak Arabic to level 3 according to Al-Azhar Cairo standards.

Meanwhile, Rector of UIN Jakarta Amany Lubis expressed her gratitude for the trust of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in making UIN Jakarta as one of the locations for PBSB selection. She also appreciated the PBSB program as a step forward in printing the best generation of Indonesian Muslims to study at one of the world's best universities. "Hopefully this program can produce Indonesian scholars in the future," she concluded. (usa)