PR USU - Rector of the Unversitas Sumatera Utara (USU) Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si attended the 35th Anniversary of the Sultan Iskandar Muda Education Foundation (YPSIM). The event took place at the Sultan Iskandar Muda College Foundation, on Thursday (8/25/2022).

On this 35th anniversary, YPSIM enlivened its birthday by inaugurating the Vocational High School (SMK), laying the groundwork for the Satya Terra Bhinneka University, and performing arts from YPSIM students from the Elementary School (SD), Junior High School (SMP), High School (SMA), and Vocational High School (SMK).

The Rector of USU congratulated YPSIM on the inauguration of the building and laying the first stone and hopefully it can strengthen Indonesian education in Indonesia's diversity so as to make the nation's children have the same productivity as society.

"Congratulations to YPSIM on the inauguration of the building and laying the groundwork for Satya Terra Bhinneka University," he said.

As the owner of the foundation, dr. Sofyan Tan said that this foundation was built to help people who could not afford even though the founders of the foundation were among the poor, but the desire to help others was very strong.

"I come from a poor family, but I want to help people who can't afford it too," he concluded.

Therefore, YPSIM does not separate its students from any class, ethnicity, nor religion. If there are students who can't afford it, the foundation is ready to provide assistance and students who excel will get scholarships until they finish college. This scholarship is covered by the Sofyan Tan Scholarship. "At this school, we really appreciate the differences of every human being," he said.

Sofyan Tan also said that Satya Terra Bhinneka University was taken from 3 (three) languages, namely Sanskrit, Latin, and Old Javanese, with the hope that this university can have the value of truth or goodness from the earth and the land in religion.

He hopes that graduates from Satya Terra Bhinneka University can continue their thoughts that do not differentiate people from their class, culture, or religion and can educate the nation's life. "I hope that later graduates from Satya Terra Bhinneka University can continue my thoughts to help everyone," said Sofyan Tan.

Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim, B.A., M.B.A said that this interfaith diversity is very good coupled with various kinds of houses of worship and interfaith prayers, and hopes that many schools will imitate this diversity because it is included in diversity which increases one's ability to live in diversity.

"My big hope is that many schools will imitate the diversity and symbol of YPSIM in establishing various houses of worship, and interfaith prayer," he said. (©ULC)

Author: Bambang Riyanto - Humas

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Amri Simatupang - Humas