Pesantren

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Pesantren or Pondok Pesantren is an Indonesian word for boarding schools with an Islamic focus. Pesantren education system is originated from a tradional javaneese "pondokan" (a dormitory for Hindu to learn martial arts/meditation). However, today, pesantren has evolved as an institution that provides both formal and informal education. The government department of education approve the formal education curriculum while the informal education is geared toward students independence studies (such as Koranic literature, Islamic law, Islamic history, and other practical skill training).

Most pesantrens provide housing/dormitory at low cost or even free for the the students (Santri). The two type of educations systems are conducted throughout the day, depending on the size of the pesantren, the formal ecducation (primary, secondary, high school and university level) are conducted during the day and in the evening students learn the informal education.

Pesantren provides a good alternative good education for lower to middle class citizen in Indonesia due to cost of education. Many poor students find pesantren as a good place to learn while disragarding the social class. Although today some modern pesantrens charge higher fees, they are still significantly cheaper than non-pesantren education.

Students in pesantren have almost 20 hours activities starting from early morning prayer (4am) to midnight where they ended the evening with study group in dormitory. During the day, students attend formal school (which is mandatory until secondary school by 2005) like any other students outside of pesantren, and in late afternoon and evening students will have to attend some religious/ritual followed by religious studies and group studies to do their homeworks.

Each dormitory is lead or organized by one seveal teachers (ustadz) assisted by several senior students. Ustadzs ensure that students while in dorm perform their duties as santri in pesantren and student in their formal institution, such as to do their homeworks and reinforcing the social behavior. In many ways, persantren function as a large home for the students.

All pesantren are led by a group of teachers and religious leaders known as Kyai. The Kyai is largely the great-grandchildren of the Pesantren's founder or respected teachers in pesantre. The Kyai is respected as teacher and devout man. Kyai also plays important role in the community as religious leader and in recent years as political figure. One prominent pesantren figure in Indonesia is Abdurrahman Wahid, a former President of Indonesia. He was well educated in Pesantren during his youth and grown up as a son of Kyai, the founder of one of Indonesian religious political organization (Nahdlatul Ulama). Gus Dur has received formal education and informal education from pesantren.