Religious Affairs Minister Launches Safe Santri Task Force with Gus Kautsar
Jakarta – The commemoration of Santri Day on 22 October 2026 provided an occasion for Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar to announce five priority programmes.
The programmes, initiated by the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools, cover protecting students from violence, strengthening recognition of their qualifications, developing technological skills and economic independence, improving practical skills, and expanding digital preaching.
“To meet the challenges of the times and ensure that Islamic boarding schools are better equipped to prepare students for the future, the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools has initiated five priority programmes,” the minister said in his speech.
The programmes are Safe Santri, Strengthening Qualification Recognition, Adaptive and Independent Islamic Boarding Schools, Santri 5.0, and Digital Preaching.
Safe Santri aims to provide a secure learning environment free from violence. Strengthening Qualification Recognition is intended to broaden educational and career opportunities for graduates of Islamic boarding schools.
Meanwhile, the Adaptive and Independent Islamic Boarding Schools programme focuses on technological skills and economic independence. Santri 5.0 is designed to strengthen students’ religious knowledge alongside their practical skills, while Digital Preaching encourages Islamic boarding schools to communicate in creative and relevant ways in the digital sphere.
To begin implementing the five programmes, the minister officially launched the Safe Santri task force.
Basnang Said, Director General of Islamic Boarding Schools at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said Safe Santri would also involve religious leaders and public figures to broaden the reach of its message about student protection.
One of those joining is the head of Al Falah Islamic Boarding School in Ploso, Kediri, KH Muhammad Abdurrahman Al Kautsar, commonly known as Gus Kautsar. A number of professionals, including educators and psychologists, will also take part.
“We will involve several figures who can tell the public that Islamic boarding schools and their students are safe, and that these schools are secure and comfortable places in which to cultivate noble character,” Basnang said.
He said the Safe Santri task force would also involve state authorities, including the police and prosecutors. Their participation is expected to make it easier to respond if cases arise within Islamic boarding schools.
“If cases arise, it will then be easier for us to take them into the legal process,” he said.