THE STRATEGY OF ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL COMPETITION: A CASE STUDY AT MTsS JABAL NUR

Abstract

Education is the principal instrument through which a nation builds human resources capable of competing in a rapidly changing world, and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) carry the distinctive task of reconciling academic achievement with the formation of Islamic character. As the demands of global competition intensify, the leadership exercised by the head of a pesantren becomes the decisive factor in whether a madrasah under its supervision can sustain and improve the quality of the education it provides. This study examines the strategy adopted by the leadership of Pesantren Jabal Nur in improving the quality of education at MTsS Jabal Nur, a private Islamic junior secondary school located within the pesantren in Paloh Lada Village, Dewantara Sub-district, North Aceh Regency. The study further identifies the factors that support and hinder the strategy and analyzes its impact on educational quality. A qualitative approach with a descriptive design was employed. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews with the head of madrasah and the vice-heads for curriculum and student affairs, and documentation of institutional records, and were analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, with credibility strengthened through source and technique triangulation. The findings show that the leadership's strategy is realized through systematic educational planning, sustained development of teacher competence, the strengthening of a quality culture and student character, the improvement of facilities and infrastructure, and the integration of technology into the learning process. The strategy is sustained by the leadership's commitment, the support of teachers and staff, the pesantren's strong religious culture, the involvement of parents and the surrounding community, and students' enthusiasm for learning, while it continues to contend with limited facilities and funding, the rapid pace of technological change, disparities in students' academic ability, and the wider pressures of globalization. The strategy has produced measurable gains in student discipline, teacher competence, the formation of Islamic character, public trust in the madrasah, and both academic and non-academic achievement, indicating that leadership strategy remains the pivotal instrument through which a pesantren-based school can improve the quality of its education without losing its religious identity.