Waka DPR Encourages The Establishment Of A Directorate General Of Islamic Boarding Schools To Manage Religious Education Institutions

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal said his party would encourage the formation of the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools to focus more on managing religious-based educational institutions, which now have more than 350 Islamic boarding schools.

This was said by Cucun after attending the International Conference on the Transformation of Islamic Boarding School which was held by the National Awakening Party (PKB) on Thursday, June 26, yesterday.

The International Conference on the Transformation of Islamic Boarding School (ICTP) or the International Conference on Islamic Boarding School Transformation entitled Classy Boarding School Towards Golden Indonesia: Unifying Tradition, Innovation and Independence was held on June 24-26 2025 at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta.

"As the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, I appreciate the steps taken by PKB with the government under Pak Prabowo's administration, we appreciate the ministers also going down and very concerned, because it is not a small number of this pesantren institution. We are very supportive of the DPR," said Cucun, Thursday, June 26.

"And later, what are the breakthroughs that need regulation, we already have Law 18 of 2019, it becomes a legal effort for hooks, follow-up from here there is Commission VIII in charge of religion, whether it needs to be immediately encouraged by the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Islamic Boarding Schools, so that focus. So far, the presence of the state is still being questioned," he added.

Cucun admits that so far the existing budget posture is not very optimal for education. In fact, the constitution mandates that 20 percent of the state budget is intended specifically for education, including pesantren.

"I myself see how the existing budget posture is, even though 20 percent, you know, the mandate of the education budget constitution. There is no state seeing that from 20 percent there is a special nomenclature, for example for pesantren, now there is not yet," explained Cucun.

"That's why we really appreciate this international conference activity and we want to continue to have a bigger international conference, even the state is present there," he continued.

Cucun also appreciated the presence of the government represented by the Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar, the Minister of Elementary and Secondary Affairs (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mendikti Saintek) Brian Yuliarto who were also present at this pesantren international conference.

"The Minister of Education and Higher Education has information breakthroughs that must now be adapted by the Islamic boarding school," said Cucun.

The Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the Coordinator of People's Welfare (Korkesra) agrees that his party will immediately encourage the formation of the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools. According to Cucun, this is to maximize the potential of Islamic boarding schools and their students.

"Obviously, we will encourage. This is only 350 Islamic boarding schools, what is certain is that all of them want the presence of Islamic boarding schools to exist, the state can attend, can see how Islamic boarding schools have an important role in the development of the character of the nation's children," he said.

"At the same time producing pesantren graduates who have been able to transform and even run down from their religious knowledge," added Cucun.

According to Cucun, pesantren graduates have now transformed more and more not only as students, but also empowering their knowledge in other fields.

"There are already those who have shifted to accountants and even understand how the knowledge of state financial management is, there is also the government. So many students in PKB have transformed based on scientific discipline, not just pesantren science," said the Deputy of PKB.

Cucun then highlighted the regional regulation derived by the Islamic Boarding School Law which is still running on the spot. He reminded the Regional Government to carry out the law's orders. He reminded the Regional Government to carry out the law's orders.

"I remind you that the mandate of the law, especially sources of funding, is not only the APBN, there is also the APBD. So if there are regions that have not carried out the mandate of the law, they will immediately, even the regional regulations below that must be implemented with derivatives," said Cucun.

"Yes, the governor's regulation, the Perbup, this regional regulation already exists, made by the DPRD but the Pergub, the Perbup, the derivatives have not come out. Now, we have to evaluate which areas, we urge local governments from the mandated 20 percent constitution, they can't play games," he continued.

Cucun assessed that there are still many local governments that have not been orderly in implementing the 20 percent budget allocation rule from the APBD for education. Not only for formal education, but also for pesantren education which has also been regulated in the Islamic Boarding School Law.

"The APBD is 20 percent of the amount of the APBN. This is still not much discipline, 20 percent is not just formal education, pesantren has the rights through the law of the Islamic Boarding School Law," explained Cucun.

Cucun is optimistic that President Prabowo's administration will accommodate and realize the optimization of Islamic boarding school education even though it is currently making efficiency.

"I am sure, because so far we have heard how Pak Prabowo is optimizing the role of the APBD as well, that for education must be really maximal, not only the task of the central government, (but) local governments," he said.

Moreover, added Cucun, currently there is Law Number 1 of 2022 concerning Financial Relations between the Central Government and Regional Governments. (HKPD Law). Through this regulation, the state budget can be more empowered for the education sector.

"Moreover, there is an HKPD Law that has been running out of APBD for personnel spending now that they have strong empowering, although some regions still have a somewhat shock efficiency policy, they have not been able to relax," said Cucun.

"In fact, in my opinion, this is really how to make the APBN-APBD in accordance with its function and designation and is right on target," concluded the legislator from the West Java II electoral district.