Arguments for the Establishment of the Directorate General of Pesantren

Dr. Suwendi, M.A.

Lecturer at UIN Jakarta, Member of the Pesantren Law Drafting Team, Ministry of Religious Affairs (RI)

The Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia plans to establish a new Directorate General, namely the Directorate General of Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools). This initiative represents a bureaucratic elevation from an Echelon II directorate to an Echelon I unit. The move deserves strong public appreciation, as it is both strategically important and long overdue.

As of the second semester of 2025, the Ministry records 42,369 pesantren institutions across Indonesia, serving more than 6.26 million students and supported by over 1.16 million teachers (ustadz). In addition to pesantren, the existing directorate also oversees various formal and non-formal religious education services. Formal pathways include Formal Diniyah Education (PDF), Muadalah Education Units (SPM), and Ma’had Aly, while non-formal education consists of Madrasah Diniyah Takmiliyah, Qur’anic education, and equivalency programs in Salafiyah pesantren.

There are several compelling reasons for establishing a dedicated Directorate General of Pesantren. First, pesantren have made undeniable contributions to the Indonesian nation, from the anti-colonial struggle to post-independence nation-building. Kyai and santri were at the forefront of resistance against colonial forces, including during the second Dutch military aggression, which was countered through the historic Jihad Resolution declared by KH Hasyim Asy’ari on October 22, 1945. Since independence, pesantren have remained loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and actively contributed to social development. In many ways, Indonesia was founded, nurtured, and strengthened through the pesantren tradition.

Second, there is a clear mismatch between the bureaucratic structure and the legal mandate assigned to pesantren. Law No. 18/2019 stipulates that pesantren perform three core functions: education, religious outreach (da‘wah), and community empowerment. Consequently, funding should derive from multiple budgetary functions. However, when pesantren affairs are placed solely under the Directorate General of Islamic Education, policy and funding are limited to the education function alone. This structural constraint has weakened policy effectiveness and prevented pesantren from receiving services mandated by law.

Third, state support for pesantren remains insufficient, largely due to limited bureaucratic authority and budget allocation. Despite this, pesantren continue to operate independently and consistently serve the nation with sincerity and resilience.

At a minimum, the state should ensure three forms of equality for pesantren: recognition, affirmation, and policy inclusion. Recognition has been achieved through Law No. 18/2019 on Pesantren and Presidential Decree No. 22/2015 on National Santri Day. These regulations clearly acknowledge the legitimacy of pesantren education.

However, affirmation and policy implementation remain problematic. Budgetary support for pesantren is disproportionately small. In 2024, out of IDR 660.8 trillion allocated to the national education function, pesantren services received only IDR 1.021 trillion (approximately 0.15%). A similar pattern occurred in 2023, with pesantren receiving merely 0.14% of total education spending. By contrast, general schools absorbed over 86% of education funding in both 2021 and 2022. This imbalance reflects funding regulations that fail to adequately support pesantren, particularly Law No. 1/2022 on Central–Regional Fiscal Relations and Government Regulation No. 18/2022 on Education Financing.

In terms of policy implementation, although formal pesantren education pathways—PDF, SPM, and Ma’had Aly—are legally recognized, their graduates still face limited acceptance in higher education and the labor market. Many are unable to progress smoothly to universities, postgraduate programs, or formal employment sectors. Furthermore, pesantren institutions do not yet enjoy equal access to public funding schemes such as BOS, teacher certification allowances, BOPTN, or student aid programs. These limitations are closely linked to chronic underfunding.

Fourth, prolonged and inadequate state engagement risks weakening pesantren themselves. Over time, pesantren may lose their vitality and identity, while external forces seeking to undermine them grow stronger. Should this occur, Indonesia would lose one of its most important pillars of ideological, moral, and intellectual resilience.

For these reasons, transforming the existing structure into a Directorate General of Pesantren is a strategic necessity. This reform will not only enhance the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Religious Affairs but will ultimately empower pesantren, strengthen society, and reinforce the Indonesian state as a whole.

This article was published on Kemenag.go.id on Saturday, October 25, 2025.