Constructoin of Indonesia's first state confucial college begins

Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Saiful Rahmat Dasuki, on Friday, broke ground for the development of the Indonesian State Confucian College of Bangka Belitung (Babel) Islands in Tanjung Bunga, Central Bangka District, Babel Islands Province.

"This State Confucian College of Babel Islands Province is the first of its kind in Indonesia," he remarked while launching the college's construction in Central Bangka.

Dasuki emphasized that the development of the state Confucian college is a testament to the Religious Affairs Ministry's inclusiveness and care for all religions in the country.

"At the end of the era of President Joko Widodo's administration, we are building Indonesia's state Confucian college with the help of various parties in Babel Islands," he pointed out.

He revealed that the building of the state Confucian college is envisioned to span 2,330 square meters on a designated area of 29,430 square meters.

The deputy minister elaborated that the college's construction cost stands at Rp45.10 billion (nearly USD3 million), with a budget of Rp1.34 billion (USD86.7 thousand) for the management of the construction.

Dasuki further explained that the development of the Confucian college entails the construction of its entire complex, which encompasses Chinese-styled temples, the office of the temples, a utility building, gates, fences, roads, and drainage systems.

"I would like to thank the coordinating minister for human development and culture (Muhadjir Effendy) for his resilience in pushing for the execution of this college's development. I also appreciate other ministries and agencies for working together on this cause," he remarked.

Furthermore, he noted that Indonesia already has a similar college operating in Banyumas District, Central Java, albeit a private institution.

"This state Confucian college in Babel is Indonesia's first," he reiterated while expressing hope that the number of such state colleges would increase in the future.