Aftermath of Sexual Assault Case, Ministry of Religious Affairs Suspends Activities at Ndholo Kusumo Islamic Boarding School in Pati

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has suspended all activities at the Ndholo Kusumo Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Pati Regency, Central Java. This action follows the alleged sexual violence committed by the school’s caregiver against several female students.

Head of the Pati Regional Office of Kemenag, Ahmad Syaikhu, revealed that on 28 April 2026, the Directorate General of Islamic Education (Ditjen Pendis) issued a recommendation letter. One of the points in the letter is the temporary suspension of new student admissions at Ponpes Ndholo Kusumo.

“We also need to inform that all 252 students have been sent back to their respective parents’ homes. Except for the sixth-grade class because they have madrasah exams,” said Syaikhu to Republika on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

He added that the sixth-grade students have been entrusted to the home of one of the teachers, located not far from Ponpes Ndholo Kusumo. However, they are still being monitored and accompanied. “For the other students, we have sent them home, and their learning is conducted online,” he stated.

Syaikhu said that as a result, there are currently no activities in the environment of Ponpes Ndholo Kusumo. “For the boarding school, for the madrasah, the gates, everything is locked. No one enters. It’s secure, there are no students,” he said.

He explained that the educational institutions at Ponpes Ndholo Kusumo consist of raudatul atfal, madrasah ibtidaiah, SMP, and madrasah aliah. The total number of students as of 27 April 2026 was 252 people.

According to Syaikhu, the Kemenag permit for Ponpes Ndholo Kusumo was issued in October 2021. However, he suspects that activities at the ponpes had been ongoing before the permit was issued.