Professionalism Proven to be the Main Key to Improving Pesantren Teachers' Performance Amidst Educational Transformation

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FORMOSA NEWS

Recent research reveals that the level of professionalism is the most crucial determining factor for the performance of asatidz (Islamic boarding school teachers). A research team consisting of Muhammad Salim Faroghy, Bibin Rubini, and Iyan Irdiyansyah from Universitas Pakuan discovered this fact in their research in early 2026. The results of this study serve as an important breakthrough for Islamic boarding school managers, as they provide a strategic solution for managing human educational resources to remain competitive amidst the rapid changes in modern educational systems.

The quality of education in Islamic boarding schools relies heavily on the asatidz. Unlike teachers in formal schools, asatidz bear much broader social and moral responsibilities. They act as educators, spiritual guides, and role models within a 24-hour operating environment. However, the increasing management complexity and high public expectations regarding educational quality often make it difficult for Islamic boarding schools to maintain the optimal performance of their teachers.

To uncover the root of this issue, the researchers conducted a survey of 150 permanent asatidz across several Islamic boarding schools in Ciomas District, Indonesia. This research employed a quantitative method with advanced statistical modeling analysis. The objective was to map how organizational culture and leadership styles affect teacher performance, as well as to examine the role of professionalism as a mediator between these factors.

The data analysis results revealed several key findings that challenge some traditional assumptions:

• Professionalism is the Main Driver: Professionalism has been proven to have the strongest positive impact on the performance of asatidz. Superior performance highly depends on professional commitment, ethical responsibility, and the educator's efforts in self-capacity development.
• Organizational Culture has a Dual Impact: The pesantren culture, which is rooted in religious values, communal traditions, and discipline, is capable of directly improving the performance of asatidz. Moreover, this culture is also highly effective in strengthening the professional attitude of the teachers.
• Leadership has No Direct Impact: Surprisingly, an inspiring transformational leadership style does not necessarily improve teacher performance directly. A leader's guidance will only yield tangible performance results if they successfully instill and enhance the professionalism of the asatidz first.

These findings carry significant implications for the world of Islamic education and school management policies. Institutional leaders can no longer rely solely on charisma or a culture of obedience to boost the quality of education. Islamic boarding schools must begin designing concrete, continuous professional development programs for their teaching staff.

"Transformational leadership becomes effective only when it successfully develops professional values, responsibility, and self-development among asatidz," stated Muhammad Salim Faroghy and the team of academics from Universitas Pakuan in their research report.

Author Profile: This research was authored by Muhammad Salim Faroghy (Corresponding Author), Bibin Rubini, and Iyan Irdiyansyah. All three are academics and researchers affiliated with Universitas Pakuan. This team has expertise in educational management, organizational culture, and human resource development, particularly in religious-based educational institutions.

Research Source:

• Article Title: The Mediating Role of Professionalism in the Relationship Between Organizational Culture, Transformational Leadership, and Asatidz Performance
• Publication Year: 2026
• Journal Name/License: Open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Researcher Contact: msalimfaroghy@gmail.com

• DOI: 

  https://doi.org/10.55927/ijba.v6i3.16619