Indonesia to Establish Building Standards for Islamic Boarding Schools

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia announced plans to establish comprehensive building standards for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) to prevent future structural failures, following the recent collapse at Al Khoziny Islamic School.

“The issue of building standards will be discussed with kiai (Islamic scholars), gus (clerics), and other pesantren stakeholders,” said Thobib Al Asyhar, Head of Public Relations at the ministry, during a press statement in Jakarta on Monday.

Thobib noted that the tragic incident at Al Khoziny had drawn serious attention from Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who personally visited the site shortly after the collapse. “The minister visited a few days ago to better understand the situation, express empathy for the victims, and directly assess the conditions at the site,” he said.

He emphasized that the minister viewed the tragedy as a critical lesson for all stakeholders to enhance safety measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The ministry is committed to working closely with pesantren to ensure that all school buildings provide a safe and comfortable environment for students,” Thobib added. He explained that discussions on construction standards would be held with pesantren leaders and coordinated with the Ministry of Public Works and other relevant agencies to raise awareness of proper building practices.

“We will also share technical guidance and knowledge to ensure that future construction projects comply with established safety regulations,” he stated.

Pesantren, traditional Islamic schools deeply rooted in Indonesian culture, have played a vital role in education, character building, and community development for generations.

“Parents should not be afraid to send their children to pesantren. The Ministry of Religious Affairs will continue to monitor and ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” Thobib concluded.