Designing Strategy for Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren) in Indonesia

Abstract

Islamic Education Institutions play a very important role in building good moral, principles and Islamic
characteristics toward Indonesian society. One of the distinctive Islamic institutions and considered as the
oldest one is Islamic Boarding Schools (pesantren). This paper aims to design a strategy to be implemented
in such Islamic Education Institution to enhance the Islamic education for the benefit of the students and
whole Muslims in Indonesia. In further discussion, firstly this paper presents an overview of Islamic
education in pesantren and secondly, it discusses the strategy of pesantren itself. The strategy in such
institution must be set based on Islamic values and seen from Islamic perspectives. Any method or principles
adopted from external values also need to be adapted and shaped to be more Islamic. However Islam does
not overlook any principles as long as it is not contrary to Islamic principles and laws.