The Stark Reality: Unsafe Construction Practices Plaguing Indonesian Pesantren

The heartbreaking collapse at Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school was not merely an accident; it was a tragic testament to the years of neglect embedded within Indonesia’s education infrastructure. Pesantren, often seen as pillars of religious and moral growth in local communities, frequently push the boundaries of safety by being built or expanded without official permits or rigorous inspections. For instance, in many impoverished regions, schools are constructed with substandard materials—sometimes using bamboo or unstable concrete—simply because authorities either turn a blind eye or lack the resources to enforce strict regulations. This careless approach transforms these educational sanctuaries into ticking time bombs, capable of devastating consequences at any moment. Had there been stricter enforcement, along with accountability measures for builders and operators, perhaps hundreds of lives could have been spared—yet this tragedy underscores that such oversight remains lamentably weak, allowing danger to silently grow until it explodes in the worst possible way.

The Root of the Problem: Systemic Safety Failures in Indonesia’s Pesantren Sector

The collapse reveals a systemic failure woven into Indonesia’s education and safety oversight—one that demands immediate rectification. Many pesantren, especially those in remote or underserved areas, operate outside formal legal structures; they are built without permits, often relying on unofficial approvals or local customs rather than strict regulation. Take the case of Al Khoziny, which some reports suggest lacked any valid building permit. This absence of official oversight means subpar construction practices go unchecked, and the risk of catastrophe remains unaddressed. Moreover, corruption and bureaucratic inertia often hinder regulatory enforcement, permitting unsafe structures to proliferate unchecked. When structures collapse—especially during gatherings of hundreds of students—the results are tragic, with lives lost and communities shattered. The undeniable fact is that ignoring safety standards isn’t just negligent; it’s criminal, and it must be dealt with decisively.

A Call for Immediate, Transformative Action to Protect Future Generations