At-Ta’dib: Journal of Pesantren Education
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2026): At-Ta'dib: Journal of Pesantren Education

A Century of Darussalam Gontor: Transformation, Contribution, and Challenges of Modern Pesantren Education in Indonesia

Agus Salim Syukran (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Al-Quran dan Sains Al-Ishlah (STIQSI) Lamongan, Indonesia)
Moh Ismail (Universitas Darussalam Gontor, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School has undergone significant transformation amid globalization and educational modernization, yet comprehensive century-long analyses integrating institutional change, educational contribution, and future challenges remain limited. Purpose: This study analyzes the centennial trajectory of Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School, focusing on its institutional transformation, contributions to Islamic education, and strategic challenges in its second century. Methods: A historical-library research design with descriptive-analytical approach was employed. Data were drawn from primary institutional documents and secondary scholarly sources, and analyzed through historical reconstruction, thematic classification, and source triangulation. Findings: The study reveals that Gontor has transformed pesantren education through curriculum integration of religious and general sciences, implementation of the KMI system, bilingual language policy, dormitory-based character education, and structured leadership regeneration. Its contributions include establishing a replicable model of modern pesantren and promoting moderate Islamic education across Indonesia. However, it faces critical challenges including digital transformation, globalization pressures, academic research strengthening, leadership succession, and institutional sustainability. Implications: The sustainability of Gontor’s model depends on continuous educational innovation and revitalization of foundational values such as Panca Jiwa, although findings remain interpretive due to reliance on historical-documentary sources. Originality: This study provides a century spanning integrative analysis linking transformation, contribution, and future challenges within a single analytical framework of modern pesantren development.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

tadib

Publisher

Subject

Description

At-Ta’dib; Journal of Pesantren Education is a peer reviewed, open access journal dedicated to advancing scholarly inquiry into pesantren or Islamic boarding school education. The journal aims to provide a global academic platform for critical discussions, empirical studies, and conceptual ...