Non-modern pesantren need to update their curriculum, not only focusing on religious studies but also integrating general subjects to enhance students’ competencies in various fields. Additionally, offering students the freedom to choose subjects aligning with their interests and talents while providing opportunities to nurture their creativity and innovation is crucial.
Secondly, improving educational infrastructure that supports the teaching-learning processes is another essential step to bridge this competency gap.
Educational infrastructure comprises facilities and equipment utilized for educational activities. Ensuring these facilities meet standards of adequacy, availability, affordability, and integration is vital. Non-modern pesantren must enhance their educational infrastructure to facilitate an effective and efficient teaching-learning environment. This includes classrooms, libraries, laboratories, studios, workshops, sports facilities, dormitories, cafeterias, among others. Leveraging information and communication technology such as computers, the internet, multimedia, and software to support interactive and engaging learning is equally important.
Thirdly, developing a professional and competent human resource pool is crucial in addressing the competency gap. Human resources involved in education—administrators, educators, and students—must possess qualifications, abilities, attitudes, and ethics fitting their roles and responsibilities.
Non-modern pesantren need to cultivate a professional and competent human resource base by improving their well-being, motivation, and performance. Offering training, guidance, and career development opportunities, along with objective and transparent recruitment, selection, and placement processes, is essential.