Bekasi – The spirit of National Santri Day 2025 carried a powerful message from the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Nusron Wahid. He urged santri (Islamic boarding school students) to play a greater role beyond their pesantren environment — to take part on the national stage and contribute to the nation’s progress.
This message was delivered after the National Santri Day 2025 Ceremony at Pondok Pesantren Mahasina Darul Qur’an wal Hadits, Bekasi City, on Wednesday (October 22, 2025).
“National Santri Day is not just a symbolic commemoration. It reminds us that santri played a real role in Indonesia’s fight for independence. Now, the challenge is how santri can be part of the national stage and help shape Indonesia’s future,” said Nusron Wahid.
Santri Must Take Broader Roles
Minister Nusron emphasized that santri have tremendous potential to contribute in many areas — not only in education or religion, but also in politics, bureaucracy, civil society, economy, and social development.
According to him, the moral values and spirit of struggle that are deeply rooted in pesantren life must be transformed into real actions that advance the nation.
“Santri should be present in every sector. Indonesia needs people who are not only intelligent but also ethical and full of integrity. That’s the strength of pesantren education,” he added.
Pesantren: The Foundation of Integrity and Character
Nusron also highlighted the unique education system within pesantren, which he believes successfully produces human resources who are both capable and virtuous.
“Pesantren education combines intellectual capacity with strong moral character. Indonesia needs both — people who are skilled and have integrity,” Nusron stated.
He explained that while some educational institutions produce highly skilled graduates, they often lack strong moral grounding. On the other hand, some have strong values but lack capacity. “Pesantren bridges that gap,” he said.
Hope for Indonesia’s Santri
Through the momentum of National Santri Day, Nusron expressed his hope that santri across Indonesia will continue to strengthen their strategic roles in building a just, dignified, and advanced nation.
The event was also attended by Abah Abu Bakar Rahziz, Head of Pondok Pesantren Mahasina; Rahmat Sahid, Expert Staff for Public Communication; and Heri Purwanto, Head of the Bekasi City Land Office, along with other officials.
“Santri are not just keepers of values, they are agents of change. From pesantren will emerge the future leaders of Indonesia,” Nusron concluded enthusiastically.
