JAKARTA — Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Housing, Dody Hanggodo, disclosed a concerning statistic during his visit to the site of the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) in Buduran, Sidoarjo, on Monday, October 6, 2025.
According to the minister, out of more than 42,000 Islamic boarding schools registered across Indonesia, only about 50 institutions possess official building permits (IMB).
“This situation requires immediate evaluation. We are working to systematically address the quality and safety of these educational facilities,” Dody stated during his on-site briefing.
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He noted that the evaluation process will involve coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and local governments to ensure compliance and improve building safety standards.
Dody emphasized, however, that his current visit was primarily focused on overseeing emergency response efforts, not conducting construction assessments.
“Once the search and rescue operations are fully completed, we will proceed with thorough inspections and begin structural restoration,” he said.
Investigation to Follow After Rescue Efforts
Regarding the cause of the tragic collapse, the minister refrained from drawing early conclusions. He stressed that a detailed investigation into the incident’s root cause will commence only after all victims are evacuated and accounted for.
“It’s too early to determine whether construction failures were involved. The full evaluation will take place once rescue operations are done,” he explained.
When asked about reports suggesting that underage students may have been involved in the building’s construction, Dody urged the public not to rush to judgment.
“Please don’t assume that. This was a community-driven initiative — from students for students — and we must verify the facts before making statements,” he clarified.
Government Prioritizes Rescue and Safety
At present, the government’s main priority remains on rescue operations and providing immediate assistance to affected victims.
“Our focus right now is on saving lives and ensuring all those affected receive proper care,” Dody added, refraining from further comments until official investigations conclude.
The collapse of Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School has raised urgent questions about building compliance and safety standards in thousands of pesantrens across the country. The upcoming evaluation led by the Public Works Ministry aims to prevent similar incidents and ensure safer learning environments for Indonesia’s Islamic students.
