Indonesia prepares for 10th Hari Santri anniversary and school revitalizations

The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs is preparing for the tenth anniversary of Hari Santri, with the peak event scheduled for October 22, 2026. Newly appointed Director General of Pesantren, Basnang Said, announced that the logo and theme will be launched on September 22. The celebrations will include various activities such as a Scout camp, a sarong and peci festival, and an expo on pesantren independence to showcase the institutions' contributions to education and the economy.

In a separate development, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti and Medan Mayor Rico Waas visited SMPN 16 Medan to inspect the school following its revitalization. The school, which was heavily impacted by flooding in September 2025, has undergone reconstruction and land elevation to prevent future disasters. Learning has returned to 100 percent in-person instruction, and local authorities have committed to replacing damaged school furniture this year.

Additionally, leaders from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) have urged the new Directorate General of Pesantren to work on restoring public trust in Islamic boarding schools, following recent negative information that has impacted student enrollment.