Saturday, 07 November 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya has called on religious organisations and providers of Christian educational institutions to play a greater role in improving education standards and developing high-quality human resources. He stressed that educational development should not depend solely on government policies but requires the shared commitment and active involvement of all sections of society.
Surya delivered the message when opening the second regional conference of the Christian Education Council for North Sumatra and Aceh (MPKW Sumut-Aceh) for 2026. The event took place on Friday, 6 November 2026, at the Auditorium of HKBP District X Medan on Jalan Uskup Agung Sugiopranoto, Medan."The progress of a region is determined not only by infrastructure development and economic growth, but also by the quality of its people, who must possess knowledge, skills, integrity, strong character and compassion for others," Surya said.
He emphasised that educational institutions have a responsibility not only to provide knowledge and professional skills but also to shape the character of young people. Integrity, social responsibility and compassion must therefore remain essential elements of the educational process.The conference also aimed to align the programmes and policy directions of Christian educational institutions with the Christian Education Council's (MPK) vision for 2030. Key priorities included strengthening organisational coordination and building cross-sector partnerships to improve the quality of Christian schools in North Sumatra and Aceh.
During the opening ceremony, Surya conveyed the greetings and appreciation of North Sumatra Governor Bobby Afif Nasution to the entire MPKW Sumut-Aceh community. He also outlined several of the Governor's key messages concerning the development of Christian education.Christian educational foundations and institutions were urged to continuously improve the quality of their services to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality education. This should go beyond academic achievement to include nurturing a generation with strong moral values, ethical responsibility, patriotism and respect for social diversity.
Another priority was strengthening teachers' professional capabilities through targeted training, innovative teaching methods and greater use of digital technology. The MPKW was also encouraged to expand cooperation with the government, churches, educational foundations, universities, the business sector and the wider community.
Achieving these objectives requires close coordination between government institutions and community organisations. Through joint efforts, educational institutions can improve teaching standards while adapting to social and technological changes.
Stronger partnerships are expected to help Christian schools in North Sumatra and Aceh improve their competitiveness without abandoning the moral, spiritual and humanitarian values that underpin their educational mission.Meanwhile, the Chairman of HKBP District X, RE Nainggolan, expressed his appreciation for Deputy Governor Surya's attendance at the conference. He particularly highlighted Surya's modest attitude, which he believed could serve as an example of integrity for younger generations.
Nainggolan's remarks also underlined the importance of personal example among public leaders in shaping character, particularly among schoolchildren and future generations.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee for the second MPKW Sumut-Aceh regional conference, Emanuel Daeli, said the event would feature four key sessions focusing on organisational evaluation and the establishment of future policy directions.
The agenda included the adoption of the conference's rules of procedure, an assessment of the executive board's activity report, the presentation of programmes and policy guidelines, and the development of strategies to advance Christian education in 2027.These sessions were intended to give participants an opportunity to review organisational achievements, identify the development needs of schools and formulate practical measures for the coming years.
The conference is expected to produce outcomes that go beyond organisational agreements and programme approvals. More importantly, its shared commitments should be translated into concrete action to improve Christian schools across North Sumatra and Aceh.The proposed measures include stronger organisational management, further professional development for teachers, innovative teaching approaches and closer cooperation with institutional and community partners. At the same time, educational institutions are expected to preserve the values of humanity, integrity and social responsibility.
Through the second MPKW Sumut-Aceh regional conference in 2026, the transformation of Christian schools is intended to become a shared contribution towards developing a knowledgeable, principled and responsible generation capable of supporting progress in their regions and the nation as a whole. (IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
