MPR Chair Hopes The Establishment Of The Directorate General Of Islamic Boarding Schools Maximizes The Role Of Islamic Boarding Schools In Building National Characters

Chairman of the MPR RI Ahmad Muzani in Bandung, West Java, Friday (24/10/2025). (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Ahmad Muzani, welcomed President Prabowo Subianto's move to approve the establishment of the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Islamic Boarding Schools under the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), to coincide with Santri Day 2025 yesterday.

Muzani hopes that the formation of this Directorate General can maximize the role of pesantren as an educational institution that participates in building the character of the nation's children.

"On this Santri Day, the government formed a new Directorate General, the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools and it is hoped that the new Director General can make Islamic boarding schools whose existence has been felt enough, can be more institutional in providing roles to the nation's character development process, including in the nation's development process," Muzani told reporters, Friday, October 24. The Secretary General of the Gerindra Party also hopes that this Directorate General can also help build Islamic boarding schools, both physically building and education systems in the Islamic boarding school.

"Therefore, we hope that in the new Director General, the guidance for Islamic boarding schools, institutions, curriculum, education, of course other physical developments can be even better standardized," said Muzani.

It is known that President Prabowo Subianto has approved the establishment of the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Islamic Boarding Schools within the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). The news was delivered directly by the Deputy Minister of Religion (Wamenag) Father Muhammad Syafi'i after the Santri Day Apple which was held in the courtyard of the Ministry of Religion's head office, Jakarta, Wednesday (22/10/2025).

"Alhamdulillah, I have just received news from the Ministry of State Secretariat regarding the issuance of the Approval of the Pre-Corruption Permit for the Preparation of the Presidential Regulation on Amendments to Presidential Regulation Number 152 of 2024 concerning the Ministry of Religion,"

Through letter number B-617/M/D-1/HK.03.00/10/2025 dated October 21, 2025, the President through the Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi ordered the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools to be established at the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia.

"With this letter, I would like to convey that the President has approved the establishment of a Director General of Islamic Boarding Schools within the Ministry of Religion. The establishment of this Director General aims to pay greater attention, both in terms of personnel, funding, and programs, so that the government is more present in serving and supporting the development of pesantren throughout Indonesia," continued the Deputy Minister of Religion.

"Hopefully, with the presence of this Directorate General, the pesantren in the future can be more empowered according to its three functions: the function of education, the function of da'wah, and the function of community empowerment," he added.