The Ministry of Religion Tightens Permission for Pesantren, 17 Problematic Institutions Sanctioned

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion has begun to tighten the operational permits of pesantren after the cases of sexual violence and bullying in religious education units became the spotlight. The government is no longer just chasing the number of institutions, but pressing the standards of quality, dormitory safety, and protection of students.

Minister of Religion (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar said that handling cases of violence in pesantren should not stop at the perpetrators. According to the Menag, the root of the problem also concerns the governance of institutions and child protection systems.

"The violent incident that occurred is not only a matter of criminal law violations, but also concerns the protection of children's rights, institutional governance, and the state's responsibility in ensuring a safe educational environment," Nasaruddin said in a working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, Monday, June 8.

He emphasized that there should be no settlement of cases that ignore the legal process.

The Ministry of Religion is now tightening the issuance of operational permits for pesantren through the SITREN application. The conditions are made more layered, including the obligation of Building Building Approval (PBG) and Certificate of Public Function (SLF).

The impact is immediately visible. In May-December 2025, the Ministry of Religion issued 888 permits. However, in January-April 2026, the new permits issued fell sharply to 41.

"The state has an obligation to ensure that institutions that receive official recognition actually meet the basic characteristics of pesantren and are able to guarantee the safety of students," said Nasaruddin.

The Ministry of Religion also imposed administrative sanctions on problematic pesantren. Throughout 2026, the ministry stopped accepting new students in 17 cases, replaced the leadership of the institution in 14 cases, to revoke the permanent registration of the institution.

On the complaint side, the Ministry of Religion has optimized the Telepontren channel to open reports of violence that have been often covered by the silent culture. The channel received 5 reports in 2024, rising to 26 reports in 2025, and has responded to 22 complaints throughout January-May 2026.

"This surge in complaints should not be interpreted simply as an increase in the number of violence. This data shows an increase in the trust of students, parents, and the community in the state's complaint mechanism," said Nasaruddin.

For prevention, the Ministry of Religion has partnered with PBNU, MUI, Nawaning, and RMI in the Facilitator Module for Child-Friendly Boarding Schools. The Ministry also encourages Tarbiyah Jinsiyyah training, which is sexual education based on Islamic manners, so that students understand the limits of relationships and dare to report.

Nasaruddin encouraged pesantren to imitate the good practice of nurturing without physical punishment from a number of institutions, such as Al Muayyad Surakarta Pesantren, Peacesantren Welas Asih Garut, and Nurul Jadid Probolinggo Pesantren.

"The state is present not only when cases occur, but fortifies the protection system from the beginning for the future of Indonesian children," he said.