Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has approved the establishment of a Directorate General for Pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools) under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, coinciding with the commemoration of Santri (Pesantren Student) Day 2025.
Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar confirmed and welcomed the decision, expressing gratitude to all parties involved in advancing the proposal, particularly Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Muhammad Syafi’i. Umar made the announcement during a Santri Day ceremony held at the ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister Syafi’i explained that the State Secretariat had issued an official letter authorizing the drafting of a presidential regulation (Perpres) to amend Perpres No. 152 of 2024, which defines the organizational structure of the Religious Affairs Ministry.
The letter, signed on Tuesday (October 21) by Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi, stated that President Prabowo had directed the creation of the Pesantren Directorate General to enhance the government’s focus on developing Islamic boarding schools.
Syafi’i expressed hope that the new directorate general would further strengthen pesantrens’ contributions to education, religious propagation, and community empowerment across Indonesia.