Ministry of Religious Affairs Emphasises Strategic Role of Pesantren in National Education
JAKARTA — The Ministry of Religious Affairs has affirmed that pesantren must not be overlooked in national education policy. These institutions are deemed vital in shaping the character and spirituality of the younger generation.
Director General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Amien Suyitno, stated that pesantren represent an authentic legacy of Indonesian education, born from the nation’s long history.
“Pesantren is a genuine product of Indonesian education. If the government fails to pay attention to pesantren, it would be tantamount to opposing history,” said Suyitno on Tuesday (17/3/2026).
Suyitno explained that the pesantren education system is unique because it combines academic learning with character building. The dormitory-based model enables a comprehensive educational process, including the formation of morals and spirituality for students.
“In pesantren, development is not only in the aspect of knowledge but also in the formation of morals and spirituality of the students,” he said.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is also continuously strengthening ties with the pesantren community through various activities. One of them is the Takjil Pesantren agenda, which serves as a space for dialogue between the government and students.
Director of Pesantren at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Basnang Said, stated that this activity aims to strengthen relations while absorbing aspirations from the pesantren community.
“Through this activity, we want to reach out to students in various regions while strengthening ties between the government and pesantren,” explained Basnang.
The caretaker of Al-Karimiyah Islamic Boarding School, KH Ahmad Damanhuri, explained that the pesantren he leads began from humble conditions. Initially, teaching and learning activities were conducted on the mosque’s veranda before developing into an integrated educational institution.
“This pesantren was born from very simple conditions. However, with the spirit of benefiting the community, Al-Karimiyah continues to grow into a centre for education and the dissemination of Islam as a mercy to all worlds,” he said.