Solutions and Legal Steps for Hundreds of Padang Ati Academy Students in Pekalongan
The sexual abuse allegations against the leaders and caretakers of Padang Ati Academy in Pekalongan have created profound uncertainty for around 400 male and female students studying there. Amid police investigations, the main focus is now on ensuring educational continuity and psychological recovery for the students.
Parents are advised to coordinate immediately with the Pekalongan Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) and local education office. The government has an obligation to facilitate the transfer of students to credible educational institutions or Islamic boarding schools to prevent disruption of their studies.
Given the sexual abuse nature of the case, support from the Local Technical Implementation Unit for Women and Children Protection (UPTD PPA) is crucial. Students, whether direct victims or indirectly affected, require trauma healing to recover their mental health.
This incident should prompt parents to be more discerning. Ensure the destination institution has a valid operating license and transparent internal oversight. Parents have the right to inquire about child protection protocols at new educational facilities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a clear statement regarding the legal status of Padang Ati Academy in Simbang Kulon Village, Buaran Subdistrict, Pekalongan Regency, in response to allegations of sexual misconduct involving the institution’s leaders and several women.
Basnang Said, Director of Islamic Boarding School Education at Kemenag, stated that the suspect is not the head of a traditional pesantren as widely reported, but the leader of an unregistered academy.
Based on checks in the Education Management Information System (EMIS), Basnang Said confirmed that Padang Ati Academy does not have legal recognition as a religious education institution under Kemenag.
“We have verified the EMIS data and confirmed the institution has no operational license and is not registered with the Pekalongan Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs office,” Basnang said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, 28 May 2026.
The Diniyah and Islamic Boarding School Section of the Pekalongan Regency Kemenag office has conducted on-site verification to confirm the institution’s legal status. Field analysis confirms the activities are based in Simbang Kulon Village, Buaran Subdistrict, but administratively do not meet the criteria of a pesantren.
This clarification is vital to uphold the reputation of Indonesia’s pesantren institutions and provide clarity to the public and parents regarding their children’s educational status at the facility.
The public can verify through Kemenag’s official EMIS Pendis website or directly contact the local Religious Affairs Office (KUA) or Regency/City Kemenag office.
Pesantren must have an operational license, meet the Arkanul Ma’had criteria (including a kiai, resident students, dormitories, mosque, and study of classical Islamic texts), and be registered with Kemenag. Padepokan typically function as vocational or arts/sports training centres, with licenses possibly under other authorities or not registered as formal religious education institutions.
Institutions without operational licenses fall outside Kemenag’s curriculum oversight and legal protection, meaning any diplomas or certificates issued are not formally recognised by the state.
Four hundred students at Padang Ati Academy in Pekalongan face educational uncertainty after its leader, AKF, was named a suspect in a sexual abuse case. Kemenag states the institution lacks official registration.