Indonesia establishes Directorate General of Pesantren

The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs has established the Directorate General of Pesantren to strengthen the governance, educational quality, and social contributions of Islamic boarding schools. Announced by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar during the 2026 National Santri Day commemorations, the new directorate is the result of long-term efforts involving President Prabowo Subianto, the House of Representatives, and the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry has launched five priority programs to modernize these institutions. These include the formation of the ‘Safe Santri’ task force to prevent physical, verbal, and sexual violence; the strengthening of diploma recognition to improve career and educational access for graduates; and initiatives to foster technological mastery and economic independence. Additionally, the ministry aims to promote ‘Santri 5.0’—combining religious expertise with modern skills—and digital preaching to ensure pesantren remain relevant in digital spaces.

Minister Umar emphasized that modern pesantren are no longer limited to traditional religious studies, noting that graduates are increasingly excelling in science, technology, robotics, and sports. To improve oversight, the Majelis Masyayikh, composed of senior pesantren figures, will be involved in providing guidance and assisting in institutional supervision.