The Head of the Early Education and Islamic Boarding School Division\nof the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) in\nCentral Java, Moch Fatkhuronji, revealed that at least 128 boarding\nschools in the province have been proposed for closure. The failure to\nmeet the \u2018arkanul ma\u2019had\u2019 (pillars of the boarding school) is the\nprimary factor behind these proposals.<\/p>\n
Fatkhuronji stated that boarding schools across the country can be\nclosed if they fail to comply with these fundamental pillars. \u201cThe most\nimportant aspect is that a boarding school can be closed if it rejects\nthe Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) or if its\nteachings are not \u2018rahmatan lil alamin\u2019 (a blessing for all). Adherence\nto NKRI is mandatory,\u201d he explained during an interview on Saturday\n(19\/09\/2026).<\/p>\n
The \u2018arkanul ma\u2019had\u2019 also regulates the presence of a caretaker or\n\u2018kiai\u2019 within the school environment. In addition to possessing a clear\nlineage of religious knowledge (sanad), the kiai must serve as a role\nmodel for students. \u201cA kiai\u2019s behaviour must be exemplary. For instance,\nif they are involved in sexual violence, the school can be proposed for\nclosure,\u201d said Fatkhuronji.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the regulations require boarding schools to maintain a\ncurriculum, adequate infrastructure, and a minimum student body of 15.\nAccording to Fatkhuronji, most of the 128 proposed closures in Central\nJava are due to a lack of students, with some schools having no students\nat all. He noted that students must be registered in the Education\nManagement Information System (EMIS).<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there are no students and the kiai lacks IT literacy, our data\nshows zero enrolment. In such cases, we coordinate with district\/city\nreligious affairs offices to assess the situation. We have found\ninstances where the kiai has passed away and the school is left\nunmanaged. This burdens our data, hence the proposal for closure,\u201d\nFatkhuronji added.<\/p>\n
Throughout 2026, several kiais in various parts of Central Java have\nbeen implicated in alleged sexual violence cases. These incidents\noccurred at institutions including Ponpes Ndolo Kusumo (Pati), Ponpes\nAl-Jaelani (Semarang), Ponpes Al Anwar (Jepara), Padepokan Padang Ati\n(Pekalongan), Ma\u2019had Adzimul Qur\u2019an Al Anfas (Demak), Ponpes Fathul Ulum\n(Banjarnegara), Ponpes Salafiyah Futuhiyah (Grobogan), and Ponpes\nManjung (Wonogiri). Several licensed schools recorded by the Ministry of\nReligious Affairs have been recommended for closure following these\ncases.<\/p>\n
Currently, there are 5,451 licensed and registered boarding schools\nin Central Java, with over 600,000 students. Fatkhuronji admitted that\nas of July 2026, very few of these institutions had established task\nforces for the prevention and handling of sexual violence (PPKS)\u2014fewer\nthan ten. He noted that establishing such task forces remains a\nchallenge due to the need for qualified human resources.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/128-islamic-boarding-schools-in-central-java-proposed-for-closure-1789818801", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }