GORONTALO – In expanding community service programs through Teaching Program, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo cooperates with Ponpes (Islamic Boarding Schools) in Gorontalo.

The cooperation was kick-started through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the UNG Rector Eduart Wolok with the Chair of Ponpes Al-Huda of Gorontalo City, KH. Burhanudin Umar and Leader of Ponpes Salafiyah Syafi'iyah Banuroja KH. Abdullah Aniq Nawawi on Wednesday (21/2), during UNG's 49th graduation ceremony.

"The cooperation with these two Islamic boarding schools is UNG's effort to broaden UNG's service within the framework of UNG’s Teaching Program," said the Rector.

According to the Rector, currently Islamic boarding schools have an average shortage of teachers in the field of general studies. For this reason, UNG will take a role by assigning Teaching Practice Program (PPL) students and internship programs to the two Islamic boarding schools, so that scientific capacity, especially general studies, can be maintained.

"Currently, there are only two Islamic Boarding Schools, but there will be more and even it will team up with the PW (Regional Management) Nahdlatul Ulama and PW Muhammadiyah," explained the Rector.

The Rector emphasized that all alumni produced by the Islamic Boarding School, whether from the Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (Islamic Elementary School), Madrasah Tsanawiyah(Islamic Junior School), and Madrasah Aliyah (Islamic Senior School) levels, have the same opportunity to continue their education at the higher education level, especially at the UNG as community campus.

"UNG will be very grateful for the trust to serve at the two Islamic boarding schools, and we hope to have this UNG Teaching Program keep going on," he concluded. (**)