Problems and Challenges of Education Quality in Indonesia: A Systematic Literature Review from an Islamic Education Perspective

Abstract

The quality of education is a persistent and unresolved issue in Indonesia, particularly within Islamic educational institutions, which are burdened by structural, cultural, and resource related problems. Although a considerable body of research has examined teacher quality, access, curriculum, quality management, and digitalisation, most prior studies treat these issues in isolation and rarely integrate them into a single systemic framework from an Islamic education perspective, this gap forms the basis of the present study. This article aims to provide an in depth, systemic analysis of the problems and challenges surrounding the quality of education from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, with a focus on Islamic educational institutions. The method employed is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA procedure, examining primary and secondary sources comprising SINTA indexed national scientific journals, accredited national journals, reputable international journals, reports from international organisations (OECD, UNESCO), and government regulations published between 2020 and 2025, resulting in 19 eligible articles and documents after identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and quality appraisal. The findings indicate that (1) low teacher competence and uneven distribution of teachers, (2) disparities in access and infrastructure between urban areas and 3T regions, (3) a curriculum that is slow to adapt to the demands of the 21st century, (4) weak implementation of quality management at the school level, and (5) the challenge of uneven digitalisation are interrelated dimensions of a single system rather than isolated problems. In the context of Islamic education, these issues are compounded by the dichotomy of knowledge, limited integration between the pesantren/madrasah curriculum and contemporary needs, and limited institutional capacity. The novelty of this review lies in synthesising these previously dispersed strands of literature into an interconnected conceptual framework specific to Islamic education in Indonesia. This article offers recommendations to strengthen the quality of education, including the importance of a Total Quality Management (TQM) approach, the continuous enhancement of teachers’ competencies, and synergy between formal and non-formal educational institutions.