Boarding School Education in Indonesia: A Conceptual Analysis of the Differences between Boarding Schools and Islamic Boarding Schools in the Perspective of Contemporary Islamic Education

Saca Suhendi (Postgraduate Program at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University of Bandung)
Sarbini Sarbini (Postgraduate Program at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University of Bandung)
Rita Nurjanah (Pascasarjana UIN SGD Bandung)
A.H. Eviyani Munawaroh (Postgraduate Program at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University of Bandung)
Ihsan Abdurrahman (Postgraduate Program at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University of Bandung)

Intiqad: Jurnal Agama dan Pendidikan Islam
Vol 18, No 1 (2026)

This study investigates the conceptual distinctions between boarding schools and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) within the framework of contemporary Islamic Religious Education (IRE). The research aims to understand how both systems integrate religious values, academic achievement, and character formation in a residential educational environment. Using a qualitative descriptive method, the study analyzes philosophical foundations, curriculum orientation, and the roles of educators in shaping students’ moral and intellectual growth. The findings reveal that boarding schools emphasize structured management and curriculum integration between general and Islamic education, whereas pesantren focus on the transmission of classical Islamic sciences and character development through traditional mentorship and communal life. Both models share the same mission of producing spiritually grounded, disciplined, and socially responsible individuals. The study concludes that an integrative approach combining the strengths of both systems is essential for developing holistic Islamic education that remains relevant amid globalization, technological change, and social diversity.