Religious Affairs Minister Proposes Upgrading 13 Institutes to University Status and 8 Higher Schools to Institute Status

Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has proposed institutional restructuring of several State Religious Higher Education Institutions (PTKN). Nasaruddin announced these proposals during a working session with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives at parliament’s complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, 12 March 2026, as part of efforts to expand access and improve the quality of education.

“In order to enhance and equalise access, quality, and relevance of education, several PTKN are proposing institutional transformation, namely eight higher schools becoming institutes,” said Nasaruddin.

“Thirteen institutes will become universities, and two new PTKN institutions will be established,” he added.

The ministry has also proposed converting 305 Islamic boarding schools (madrasahs) and religious secondary schools into state educational institutions. According to Nasaruddin, this initiative will improve the quality of educational management and expand equitable access to religious education services.

Beyond institutional upgrades for higher education, the Religious Affairs Ministry proposed several other organisational restructuring measures. These include elevating the status of several work units, such as the Qur’an Printing Unit (UPQ) to structural level III A with additional level IV A positions, and upgrading the LPMQ Administrative Division Head position to structural level III.

“We are also proposing the upgrade of the Religious Education Training Centre (LDK) to the Centre for Religious Human Resources Competence Development (BPKSDMK),” explained Nasaruddin.

Additionally, Nasaruddin proposed establishing several new directorates within the Directorate General of Islamic Education, including the Directorate of Vocational Education, the Directorate of Special Education, and the Directorate of Special Services Education, replacing the previous Directorate of Islamic Boarding School and Islamic Religious Education.

“This is intended to prepare madrasah graduates to enter the job market,” he said.

The ministry also proposed restructuring the Directorate General of Buddhist Community Guidance by splitting the Directorate of Buddhist Religious Affairs and Education into two separate units: the Directorate of Buddhist Religious Affairs and the Directorate of Buddhist Education.