Semarang, June 19 -- Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, has highlighted the need to adopt a new approach to reduce poverty in Indonesia.

"Education is the most effective way to break the chain of poverty," the minister said at an open dialogue held at State Islamic University (UIN) Walisongo Semarang in Central Java on Thursday.

According to Iskandar, the social assistance ( bansos ) scheme must focus on social empowerment. "The government does not want to just maintain poverty rates with social assistance worth Rp500 trillion. We want to change their conditions," he said.

This can be possible with the support of educational institutions, including Islamic boarding schools, which must be the main ...