The existence of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia is quite familiar to Indonesian citizens, so that the special characteristics of Islamic boarding schools are curriculum content that is focused on religious sciences, for example Arabic syntax, Arabic morphology, Islamic law, Islamic jurisprudence system, Hadith, interpretation of Al-Qur'an, Islamic theology, Sufism, dates, and rhetoric.
 The pesantren education system is: [a] Using the traditional system. [b] A life that shows the spirit of democracy. [c] A system that prioritizes simplicity. [e] A system that does not suffer from symbolic disease.
 In pesantren there are several behaviors and traditions of the santri as identified social values: [a] Volunteering (sincere) and serving (khidmah). [b] Wise-wise. [c] Simplicity. [d] Collectivity. [e] Organize joint activities. [f] Guided freedom. [g] Independent. [h] Make boarding schools a place to gain knowledge and serve.
 The internalization of modernization (re-orientation) of pesantren education cannot be separated from the supporting and inhibiting factors. However, as a moderate Islamic education system, pesantren must take the following steps: [a] Changing the educational paradigm. [b] Islamic education is developed towards an ideological-sociological direction. [c] Restore the basic curriculum framework and map out the basics of discussion. [d] Interpretation according to social reality.