Jakarta, Feb. 4 -- Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka urged students at Islamic boarding schools, locally known as santris, to pursue religious and academic studies while keeping pace with rapid technological change, saying digital skills are essential for national development.

Speaking during a visit to Amanatul Ummah Islamic Boarding School in Mojokerto, East Java, on Tuesday, Gibran said the students must grow into religious leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to Indonesia's progress.

In a statement released in Jakarta on Wednesday, Gibran said Islamic boarding schools play a strategic role in developing high-quality human resources grounded in spiritual values and adaptable to technological change.

He stresse...