Ministry of Religious Affairs Proposes Redefinition of Islamic Education

Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Muhammad Syafi’i has proposed a redefinition of Islamic education. He stated that every general subject taught to students should inherently contain religious values. “There must be a redefinition of Islamic education. How to ensure that when a child learns mathematics, they feel they are learning religion. Learning physics, they feel they are learning religion. Learning biology, they feel they are learning religion,” he said during a meeting with the Forum Ma’had and Madaris Qur’an Indonesia on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.

In addition to the educational redefinition, he proposed the idea of economic empowerment for pesantren. He argued that economic development would be more effective if each pesantren developed a business specialisation based on its unique potential. This would equip students with practical skills they can use after graduation. “For example, marine affairs, agriculture, plantations, or livestock. Upon graduation, they can not only support themselves but also recruit others. That is true pesantren economic empowerment,” he explained.

He emphasised that strengthening the pesantren economy aims not only to build institutional independence but also to produce graduates capable of creating business opportunities and benefiting the wider community. He noted that education and economic empowerment must go hand in hand so that pesantren can produce human resources who are both excellent and productive. “If both can be achieved, the pesantren will also buzz with economic progress. When they leave, besides helping themselves, they can also drive the economy in their surrounding areas,” he added.