Violence in Pesantren Continues; Lawmaker Urges Government to Set Childcare Standards

A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has proposed the government establish national standards for childcare at pesantren, or Islamic boarding schools, to bolster child protection. This call comes in the wake of the ongoing handling of a case involving the alleged burning of three students in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Atalia Praratya, a member of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, which oversees religious affairs, stated that the proposal aims to prevent the recurrence of violence within religious educational institutions. She emphasized the need for strengthened oversight systems, safe reporting mechanisms, and regular supervision and evaluation of childcare practices in every pesantren.

The alleged arson case, which occurred in November 2025, has resurfaced in public attention as it enters the legal process. Praratya argued that the development of pesantren should not be measured solely by administrative aspects, curriculum, or institutional governance. She advocated for national childcare standards focused on child protection, complemented by secure reporting channels, periodic evaluations, and firm sanctions, up to the revocation of operational permits, for institutions found to systematically permit a culture of violence.

"The life of one child of the nation has been lost. No words can erase the grief of the bereaved family. But what is even more saddening is if tragedies like this continue to repeat, while we only offer condolences without fixing the system that should protect them," Praratya stated. She cautioned against generalizing the case as representative of all pesantren, noting that the majority function well. "We need to take firm action against perpetrators of violence precisely to maintain public trust in Islamic educational institutions," she asserted.