Pancasila Lecture May Soon Be Compulsory at Leading Indonesian University
Jakarta. Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta plans to take more concrete actions to counter radical religious teachings at its own campus, including by making lectures on state ideology Pancasila compulsory, its rector said on Monday (05/06).
"Pancasila should be implemented in our daily life. Lecturers may soon be required to deliver a 30-minute Pancasila-related lecture during a lesson," UGM rector Panut Mulyono said during a discussion with the press at its University Club on Monday (05/06).
Panut agreed with the government's decision to disband Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), saying the university will not tolerate the radical ideologies espoused by the group.
The university rectorate will also issue directives to make sure that lectures on Islam at the university speak of an Islam which is rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing to the universe).
"We have also changed the management of the campus mosque so it will not be a breeding ground for radical teachings," Panut added.
Previously managed by an independent foundation, the mosque will now be directly supervised by the university through its UGM Mosque Management Office.
The office will include UGM lecturers as members who will monitor religious activities — including the content of sermons — at the mosque.
Panut said the plan to take over the mosque's management was hatched by his predecessor, Dwikorita Karnawati.
He said leaving the mosque under the care of an independent foundation makes it more vulnerable to fall under the influence of radical teachings.
"UGM is a 'Pancasila campus.' Our university will implement the five tenets of Pancasila in all our activities," Panut said.
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