October 22, 2025 — President Prabowo Subianto has officially approved the establishment of the Directorate General for Pesantren (Islamic Boarding Schools) under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, marking a historic step in strengthening the government’s commitment to the nation’s santri (Islamic students) and religious education ecosystem.

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar welcomed the President’s decision as a “testament to the state’s dedication to pesantren,” describing it as a transformative move to elevate pesantren beyond their traditional role into key institutions for human development, Islamic scholarship, and community empowerment.

“We deeply appreciate everyone who played a part in this long process, especially Deputy Minister Romo Muhammad Syafi’i, whose persistence and strong commitment made this milestone possible,”
said Minister Nasaruddin after leading the National Santri Day ceremony at the Ministry of Religious Affairs compound in Jakarta.

A Long-Awaited Vision Realized

The idea of creating a Directorate General dedicated to pesantren has been discussed since 2019, during the tenure of Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. The initiative resurfaced in 2021 and 2023 under Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and was finally realized in 2025 under Nasaruddin Umar’s leadership.

President Prabowo’s approval was formalized through State Secretariat Letter No. B-617/M/D-1/HK.03.00/10/2025, dated October 21, 2025, granting the initiative to draft a presidential regulation amending Presidential Regulation No. 152/2024 on the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

“Alhamdulillah, the President has granted his approval. This new directorate aims to expand government attention toward pesantren — institutionally, financially, and programmatically,”
said Deputy Minister Romo Muhammad Syafi’i.

He emphasized that the new Directorate General will establish a stronger, more adaptive, and inclusive governance structure for pesantren nationwide.

Reinforcing Education, Da’wah, and Community Empowerment

According to Romo Syafi’i, the Directorate General will focus on strengthening pesantren’s three core functions: education, da’wah (religious outreach), and community development.

“This is a new chapter for pesantren to become more empowered and impactful for the nation,” he affirmed.

Minister Nasaruddin added that the Directorate will serve as a national coordination hub for pesantren, addressing long-standing challenges such as unregistered institutions and unequal access to state support.

“With this Directorate, we can ensure every pesantren is properly registered, supervised, and supported through an integrated system,”
he explained.

The Minister also highlighted plans to modernize data collection and certification systems, ensuring fair and accurate development programs for all pesantren across Indonesia.

From Moral Backbone to Strategic Partner

Minister Nasaruddin underscored that pesantren have long been the moral, spiritual, and intellectual backbone of Indonesia’s Muslim community. The formation of this Directorate, he said, reflects the nation’s intent to reinforce those contributions in a rapidly changing era.

“Let National Santri Day remind us to embrace the challenges of our time with knowledge, sincerity, and unwavering faith,”
he concluded.

Academic Endorsement from UIN Sunan Kalijaga

As a leading Islamic university under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta welcomed the establishment of the Directorate General, seeing it as a strategic avenue to bridge pesantren and higher Islamic education.

In an official statement, UIN Sunan Kalijaga emphasized that the new directorate will enhance synergy in advancing Islamic knowledge, spiritual integrity, and social empowerment. The university also reaffirmed its commitment to being a strategic partner for pesantren in developing a moderate, research-based, and globally competitive Islamic scholarship.

Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, stated that through the spirit of integration and interconnection that defines the university, UIN Sunan Kalijaga is ready to collaborate with the Directorate General for Pesantren to shape a sustainable, inclusive, and globally relevant Islamic education ecosystem.

(Public Relations, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta)