Balancing Tradition and Modernity: Adaptation Strategies of Islamic Boarding Schools in the Era of Globalization

Abstract

Introduction: Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) play a crucial role in Southeast Asian education by integrating religious knowledge with character development. However, globalization and the demands of modern education pose significant challenges for traditional pesantren, especially in balancing classical Islamic teachings with contemporary academic and vocational competencies. While some pesantren have adapted to these changes, there is a need for more institution-specific studies that explore how individual pesantren navigate this transformation.
Objectives: This study aims to analyze the role and adaptation strategies of Ma’had Al-Islami Darussalam Tasek in addressing contemporary educational challenges. It seeks to understand how the institution sustains its traditional Islamic education while responding to the demands of modern academics and technology. Specifically, the research examines curriculum development, institutional governance, community engagement, and the perceptions of stakeholders including students, parents, and educators.
Methods: A qualitative research approach was employed to provide an in-depth understanding of the institution’s adaptation strategies. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns and themes, and triangulation techniques were applied to enhance the validity and credibility of the findings.
Results: The findings reveal that Ma’had Al-Islami Darussalam Tasek remains strongly committed to classical Islamic education, emphasizing subjects such as Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, and Sufism. One of the institution’s distinctive features is its structured mentorship system, in which students take on mentoring roles before receiving formal academic recognition. This approach fosters leadership skills and promotes deeper engagement with religious texts. Despite external pressures to modernize, the pesantren has maintained its traditional approach, bolstered by strong community trust and a firm adherence to core religious values.
Conclusions: The study concludes that Ma’had Al-Islami Darussalam Tasek effectively sustains traditional Islamic education through mentorship and community support, even in the face of modern challenges. However, it also identifies a need to integrate supplementary subjects such as language skills, vocational training, and interdisciplinary Islamic studies to enhance students’ future career prospects without compromising religious integrity. This institution-specific case contributes to the broader discourse on Islamic education reform and highlights areas for future research, including comparative studies across different pesantren and the inclusion of quantitative methods to assess educational outcomes and stakeholder perceptions.