Expert Urges Islamic Boarding Schools to Strengthen Child Protection Systems After Alleged Santri Burning in Lombok

A lecturer has urged Islamic boarding schools across Indonesia to strengthen their child protection systems following an alleged case of a santri being burned at a pesantren in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Aly Aulia, a lecturer at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta and former director of Madrasah Mu’allimin Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, described the December 2025 incident as deeply concerning and a serious alarm for all residential educational institutions. He stated that if the allegations are proven, the case should not be viewed merely as a conflict between students but as an indicator of systemic weaknesses in care, early detection mechanisms, and risk management within pesantren environments. Aulia emphasised that a pesantren is a second home for students, and the institution bears the responsibility not only for religious education but also for guaranteeing the safety, physical, and psychological well-being of every child. He called for the establishment of an integrated student protection system, including standard operating procedures for violence prevention, risk mapping in dormitories, proportional supervisor-to-student ratios, child protection training for caregivers, and regular quality audits. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of building a culture of open communication where students feel safe to report issues without fear of intimidation, noting that discipline in Islamic education should be based on wisdom and compassion, not violence. Aulia also reminded the media of its duty to report ethically by protecting the identities of minors and avoiding sensationalism while pushing for systemic reform.