A Critical Analysis of Islamic Education Policy on the Establishment and Administration of Islamic Boarding Schools

Abstract

This study critically analyzes Islamic education policy concerning the establishment and administration of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), with particular attention to the Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 30 of 2020 concerning the Establishment and Administration of Pesantren. The study employs a qualitative policy analysis approach by examining the substance and implications of selected provisions within the regulation from scientific, professional, and political perspectives. The analysis focuses on several provisions, particularly Article 1, which defines pesantren; Article 4, which concerns the registration of pesantren; Article 17, which concerns the values and principles underlying pesantren administration; and Article 24, which concerns learning methods. The findings indicate that the regulation provides an important legal framework for strengthening the recognition and administration of pesantren within the Indonesian education system. However, several provisions require critical consideration, particularly regarding the formulation of the definition of pesantren, registration requirements, the articulation of Islamic values, and the preservation of distinctive pesantren learning traditions. The study argues that pesantren policy should maintain a balance between state regulation, educational quality, religious values, and the cultural autonomy of pesantren. Therefore, future policy development needs to accommodate the distinctive characteristics of pesantren while ensuring their alignment with national educational principles and the broader goals of Islamic education.