darulmaarif.net – Indramayu, 12 May 2026 | 10.00 WIB
In the last few days, the Indonesian public has been shocked again by viral news about alleged sexual harassment by an Islamic boarding school caretaker named Ashari in Pati, Central Java. This case became a national highlight because it involved power relations between teachers and students, as well as allegations of manipulation of religious arguments to silence the victim. In fact, according to reports circulating, the number of victims is thought to reach dozens of female students.
Cases like this certainly hurt the hearts of many people. Islamic boarding schools, which have long been known as places to shape morals and maintain the morals of the younger generation, are suddenly being questioned about their safety by the community. Many parents begin to be haunted by anxiety: “Is Islamic boarding school still safe for my child?”
But amidst the noise, it’s important to be clear. We should not generalize that all Islamic boarding schools are bad just because of the actions of a few individuals. Just like the world of general education which also has cases of violence, Islamic boarding schools in essence remain one of the strongest strongholds of moral education in Indonesia. What needs to be done is not to stay away from Islamic boarding schools, but rather learn to choose Islamic boarding schools that are healthy, safe, transparent and have a good monitoring system.
In the digital era like now, choosing an Islamic boarding school can no longer be based solely on the kyai’s big name or popularity alone. Parents must be more critical, rational and thorough.
Don’t be fooled by religious imagery
One of the most common mistakes parents make is believing in religious symbols too easily. Robes, turbans, viral lectures, or thousands of social media followers are often considered automatic signs of piety and moral security.
In fact, history shows that deviations often arise from the culture of “not being able to criticize religious figures.” When a kyai is considered always right, then social control slowly disappears. It is at this point that power relations become dangerous.
Cases of sexual violence in educational institutions often have the same pattern:
- the perpetrator is considered holy,
- the victim is afraid to speak,
- The environment chose to remain silent in order to maintain the good name of the institution.
This phenomenon in social philosophy is referred to as abuse of authority — abuse of authority that arises from unchecked power.
Therefore, parents must start to abandon old thought patterns:
“If the Islamic boarding school is famous, it will definitely be safe.”
Eits, not necessarily!
What’s more important is:
- what is the monitoring system,
- what is the mechanism for student complaints,
- how transparent is the management,
- and whether the institution is open to criticism.
Choose a boarding school that has a system, not just a cult of figures
A healthy Islamic boarding school does not only depend on one central figure. It has a system that works even when the caregiver is not present.
The characteristics of a safe Islamic boarding school usually include:
- clear management structure,
- division of authority,
- layered supervision of students,
- child protection SOPs,
- as well as open communication with student guardians.
If all decisions depend on just one person who cannot be criticized, then the risk of deviation becomes greater.
In the modern era, Islamic boarding schools are not enough to just teach the yellow book. He must also understand child psychology, protecting the rights of students, digital security, and the ethics of relations between teachers and students.
Pay attention to how Islamic boarding schools respond to criticism
This is a very important point but is often overlooked.
A healthy Islamic boarding school is not anti-criticism. When there is a problem, they are not busy covering up the case to maintain their image. They are transparent, act quickly, and side with the victims.
On the other hand, dangerous institutions usually have the following characteristics:
- blaming the victim,
- consider criticism as slander,
- forbid students’ guardians from asking questions,
- or scare students into silence.
In fact, in Islam itself, criticism of evil is part of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar.
Covering up rot in the name of maintaining the good name of the institution actually goes against the value of justice.
Check Islamic Boarding School Digital Life
Today, child safety is not only physical, but also digital.
Many Islamic boarding schools are starting to be active on social media, but parents need to look further:
- whether the social media account is educational,
- Is the communication healthy,
- Is there transparency of activities,
- and what is the culture of interaction between administrators and students in the digital space.
Recent viral cases even show the alleged mode of private communication via midnight messages to students.
Therefore, modern Islamic boarding schools must have clear rules regarding:
- use of gadgets,
- Ustaz’s personal communication with students,
- child privacy,
- to digital media security.
In the era of AI and limitless internet, moral education alone is not enough without digital literacy.
Listen to stories from alumni and guardians of students
Don’t just believe promotional brochures or videos.
Sometimes the reality of an Islamic boarding school can be seen from the stories of its alumni. Find out:
- what is the daily culture,
- what is the attitude of the management,
- Do students feel comfortable?
- and whether any cases have been hidden.
Alumni testimonials are often more honest than marketing slogans.
Parents should also come directly to the Islamic boarding school environment, see the students’ rooms, the management’s interaction patterns, cleanliness, security and the psychological atmosphere of the children there.
A Good Islamic Boarding School Does Not Kill Critical Reasoning
Islamic education does not actually produce people who are afraid to think.
Healthy Islamic boarding schools actually teach manners and logic. Students are taught to respect teachers, but this does not mean they lose the right to say the right thing when they see a mistake.
A culture of “basically obeying” without space for dialogue often becomes fertile ground for deviations under the guise of blessings and so on.
In the classical scholarly tradition itself, scientific criticism was commonplace. Great scholars differed in opinion, corrected each other, and even wrote scientific rebuttals to each other without losing their manners.
This means that obedience in Islam is not blind obedience.
Parents Can’t Let Go
Many parents feel that once their children enter Islamic boarding school, their educational work is finished. In fact, that is precisely where supervision must be strengthened.
Build regular communication with children.
Watch for changes in behavior.
Don’t make children afraid to tell stories.
Because many victims of sexual violence choose to remain silent because they are afraid of not being believed, afraid of being scolded, or afraid of being seen as embarrassing to their family.
Children must know that home remains the safest place to come home and tell stories.
The recent viral case of an obscene kyai has become a loud alarm for the world of Islamic education in Indonesia. This is not just a matter of deviant individuals, but also a warning that unsupervised educational institutions can turn into dangerous spaces.
However, the solution to this problem is not to hate Islamic boarding schools or stay away from religious education. What is needed is the courage to build a healthier, more transparent and humane educational culture.
The Islamic boarding school of the future is not enough just to produce students who memorize books, but must also be able to maintain human dignity, protect children, and be open to social evaluation.
Because the right educational institution is not the institution that looks the most holy, but rather the institution that is most serious about maintaining the safety, common sense and humanity of its students.
For parents who are currently looking for an educational environment that does not only focus on religious knowledge, but also the formation of morals, discipline, supervision of students, and adaptability to the challenges of the digital era, the Darul Ma’arif Islamic Boarding School opens the last opportunity to register new students this academic year.
With an education system that combines Islamic boarding school traditions, character strengthening, formal education, and targeted moral and intellectual development, Darul Ma’arif Islamic Boarding School continues to be committed to being a safe, healthy and educational learning space for the young Islamic generation.
The quota for accepting new students is currently increasingly limited. Therefore, guardians of Islamic boarding school students are advised to immediately carry out consultations and registration before the acceptance wave closes.
PSB Information & Admin Center:
0822-1969-9610
Because choosing an Islamic boarding school is not only about finding a place to study, but also choosing an environment that will shape the future, way of thinking and character of our children in the midst of ever-changing times.
Hope it is useful. Wallohu a’lam.
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