Muslim EduFest Officially Launched as National Stage for Islamic Education
The Association of Indonesian Islamic Da’wah and Education Institutions (PULDAPII), together with LIMA Events, officially launched the PULDAPII Muslim EduFest at the Al Binaa Islamic Boarding School in Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Wednesday (3/6). The festival was introduced to assist Muslim families in selecting appropriate education for their children, while simultaneously providing a platform for Islamic educational institutions to showcase their quality and contributions.
The Muslim EduFest is being organised amidst the rapid growth of the Islamic education ecosystem in Indonesia. Currently, the number of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) is recorded at 42,400 institutions, nearly double the figure from five years ago. Additionally, there are over 104,000 Madrasah Diniyah Takmiliyah and nearly 195,000 active Al Quran Educational Institutions.
Nevertheless, organisers assess that this growth has not been accompanied by adequate curation spaces for parents to make informed educational choices. A 2025 Jakpat survey of 983 respondents showed that 77% of parents highlight academic aspects, while 94% are more concerned about their children’s attitude and manners, and 90% worry about the potential for bullying. Unlike general education exhibitions, Muslim EduFest is designed as a space for perspective building.
Visitors can participate in parenting seminars, educational talk shows, consultations with educational institutions, showcases of flagship programmes from Islamic schools and modern pesantren, as well as various family educational activities. The festival also introduces an educational roadmap concept, which is expected to help parents understand educational pathways that align with their children’s needs and future.
Furthermore, Muslim EduFest serves as a national arena for junior high, senior high, and vocational students, as well as teachers from Islamic educational institutions—both members and non-members of PULDAPII—to compete in various fields, such as tahfizh (Quranic memorisation), business plans, scientific works, and creative media. The Director of PT Lima Event Indonesia, Taufik Surya Hidayat, stated that this collaboration was born from the desire to provide a shared space for Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia.
“This collaboration was born from a shared concern: that Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia possess extraordinary potential, but have historically grown in isolation without a large enough stage to inspire one another,” Taufik said in his statement. “This is not merely an expo, but a movement to prove that generations from pesantren, madrasah, and Islamic schools can stand equal to, or even lead, in various fields.” Taufik added that Muslim EduFest is also expected to strengthen the image of Islamic education as a place capable of producing an excellent generation.
“We want to reverse the narrative of Islamic education, which has often been defensive. That students who memorise the Al Quran can also design business plans worthy of funding, and that Islamic schools are not just places for the hereafter, but also the best places to prepare a generation ready to lead civilisation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Education Department official of PULDAPII, Aminullah Yasin, noted that every child requires an educational environment that suits their character and potential. “The confusion felt by parents actually shows that they care. No school is perfect for every child, but there is always an environment more suitable for the character and potential of each individual child. Because choosing education is not truly about choosing a building or a curriculum, but about choosing the environment that will help shape a child’s future,” said Aminullah.