Gov’t Reaffirms Support for Pesantren on National Santri Day 2026
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, on behalf of President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian Government, on Thursday (10/22) extended his greetings on National Santri Day 202 to all santri (Islamic boarding school students), kiai (Islamic religious leaders), nyai (female Islamic religious leaders), Islamic boarding school (pesantren) caretakers, and the entire pesantren communities across Indonesia.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the contributions of pesantren to the nation, particularly in advancing education, shaping the moral character of the younger generation, and preserving Indonesia’s unity and solidarity.
The Minister also emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto paid close attention to the role and development of pesantren.
According to him, pesantren serves not only as institutions for religious education but also play a vital role in shaping character, instilling national values, and fostering a strong sense of responsibility toward society and the nation among young people.
The Minister added that the Government is committed to ensuring that pesantren continues to thrive as safe, comfortable, and dignified learning environments for their students. Threse measures include improving the quality of education, strengthening student guidance and development, and enhancing its institutional capacity.
The Government, he added, also encourages students to learn, grow, and contribute to the society while remaining rooted in religious values, scholarly traditions, and the spirit of service that lies at the heart of pesantren.
As part of this commitment, the Government is strengthening its support for pesantren by establishing the Directorate General of Islamic Boarding Schools within Ministry of Religious Affairs. The new directorate was established under Presidential Regulation Number 18 of 2026, which amends Presidential Regulation Number 152 of 2024 on Ministry of Religious Affairs.
To mark the National Santri Day 2026, the Government calls on all sectors of society to continue supporting and strengthening the role of pesantren in national development. This support is expected to create greater opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, while enabling pesantren to continue contributing to society and the nation. (PR of Ministry of State Secretariat/DND) (RAS/MEP)
