RI Govt pushes pesantren students' skills for workforce access

 Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment said Islamic boarding school students (santri) should gain skills relevant to the labor market, including financial literacy and access to financing institutions, to boost employment opportunities.

“Government programs ensure every activity includes community empowerment. Pesantren (Islamic boarding school), as a key pillar, must start economic empowerment at the grassroots,” Deputy for Social Welfare Coordination Nunung Nuryartono said in Jakarta 

He spoke at the Empowerment Pesantren: One Day, Real Impact event at Pondok Pesantren Labibah Muawanah in Pandeglang, Banten.

Nunung noted these efforts complement religious education and character building for students, providing broader preparation for professional life.

The ministry also facilitates alumni employment through partnerships with PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM), linking graduates to job opportunities in industries.

This collaborative model has been applied in industrial areas including Semarang, Batang, and Kendal, opening pathways for pesantren graduates to enter the workforce.

“So pesantren alumni can secure jobs,” Nunung said.

Beyond employment, the program strengthens social protection through BPJS Kesehatan and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, ensuring students and graduates receive health insurance and labor protections under national programs.

Nunung added that pesantren transformation requires an integrated approach across education, employment, and social protection.

“Collaboration is key, unity is a pillar. We will continue engaging pesantren as strategic partners to empower their communities, ensuring students, especially from poor and extremely poor groups, gain employment,” he said.