A National Halaqah on Institutional Reform and the Future of Islamic Education in Indonesia

A national halaqah was held at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta to strengthen the institutional foundations for the planned Directorate General of Pesantren under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The event brought together kiai, nyai, academics, and policymakers as the initiative moves closer to completion.

Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan opened the event by reaffirming the central role of pesantren in Indonesia’s Islamic educational landscape. He emphasized that pesantren have long shaped Islamic literacy and national character, and continue to promote religious moderation despite emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence (AI). He cautioned that institutions relying heavily on memorization-based learning risk falling behind in this new technological era.

During the formal inauguration of the halaqah, Prof. Dr. Phil. Sahiron Syamsuddin, Director of Islamic Higher Education (Diktis), announced substantial progress in the establishment of the new directorate. He noted that the government has granted substantive approval, with approximately 99 percent of the process endorsed by the President. He also called on pesantren leaders to contribute their insights in determining policy priorities once the directorate is officially established.

Prof. Sahiron underscored the need for pesantren to engage actively in digital spaces to safeguard the presence of moderate Islamic discourse amid the rapid growth of AI-driven content. He stressed that AI amplifies dominant narratives and that technological tools cannot replace the unique moral and spiritual authority held by kiai and santri.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its support for the new directorate through research initiatives and academic collaboration. The halaqah concluded with a shared commitment to empower pesantren to navigate contemporary challenges while remaining firmly rooted in their long-standing traditions. (humassk)