Minister Advocates for Broader Recognition of Pesantren Diplomas, Opening Employment Opportunities for Students

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar is advocating for the strengthening of the recognition of pesantren diplomas to broaden access for students to continue their education and enter the workforce.

This program is one of five key agendas of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) aimed at enhancing the future of both students and pesantren.

The initiative for strengthening the recognition of diplomas was announced by Nasaruddin during the 2026 Santri Day ceremony held at the Ministry of Religion headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday (22/10/2026).

According to Nasaruddin, the goal of strengthening diploma recognition is to expand acknowledgment of pesantren education while providing greater opportunities for pesantren graduates to develop their careers.

“This program also addresses the need to ensure that students' futures are not hampered, not due to a lack of ability or depth of knowledge, but because of limited recognition of the education they have received,” Nasaruddin stated in his remarks.

Through this program, Kemenag seeks to ensure that the educational achievements and competencies of students receive broader recognition within both the educational system and the job market.

Consequently, it is hoped that pesantren graduates will have increased opportunities to pursue further education and enhance their skills in line with their interests.

The reinforcement of diploma recognition is one of five programs being prepared by Kemenag to strengthen the future of pesantren.

These five programs were developed following the issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 18 of 2026, which marks the establishment of the Directorate General of Pesantren.

In addition to strengthening diploma recognition, Kemenag has also prepared the Safesantri program to enhance the protection of students and create a safe, comfortable, and friendly pesantren environment.

"The image of a safe and comfortable pesantren must be upheld to prevent it from being tarnished by individuals acting contrary to the spirit of pesantren," he stressed.

Kemenag is also developing the Adaptive and Independent Pesantren program, focusing on mastering technology, modernizing institutional management, and strengthening the economic independence of pesantren.

Furthermore, the Santri 5.0 program aims to enhance the competencies of students to face modern developments through improved skills and technology literacy.

Lastly, the Digital Dawah program is designed to prepare preachers who are knowledgeable in religious science while also understanding social media, algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), and creative content.

Through these five programs, Kemenag aims to strengthen the educational ecosystem of pesantren and prepare students to contribute to realizing Indonesia's Golden Age in 2045.