Gresik – A different atmosphere has been visible around the Boys’ Dormitory of Pondok Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) Maskumambang over the past week. After congregational prayers, students (santri) can be seen gathering in the corners of the dormitory with books and notes in hand. Some form discussion groups, while others appear to be reviewing materials independently. This activity is part of the students’ efforts to face the ongoing Even Final Semester Examinations (UAS) for the 2025/2026 Academic Year.
The implementation of this year’s UAS began on June 6 and will conclude on June 12, 2026. The examinations are being held simultaneously across all primary and secondary education institutions under the auspices of Pondok Pesantren Maskumambang, ranging from the Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI), Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs), Madrasah Aliyah (MA), to the Vocational High School (SMK) levels.
The Vice Principal of Academic Affairs at MTs-AM YKUI Maskumambang, Ustadz Mohammad Ibrahim, S.Pd., stated that as they entered the third day of the examination, the entire series of activities had run smoothly and according to the pre-arranged planning. “Alhamdulillah, today we have carried out the third day of the even UAS for the 2025/2026 academic year smoothly and in line with our expectations.”
Every day, students take two tested subjects starting from 07:30 until 11:00 WIB. However, for students living in the dormitory, preparation for the exams does not only take place in the classroom. Additional study routines carried out after boarding school activities have become an inseparable part of the process.
Amidst the students’ busy dormitory schedules, their enthusiasm for learning feels even more prominent. Ramzi, one of the students at the Maskumambang Boys’ Dormitory, revealed that the evening is the primary opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the subject matter.
“We usually study together after Maghrib until nine o’clock in the evening. However, if there are certain activities, such as breaking the fast together on Mondays and Thursdays, the schedule adjusts and starts after the Isha prayer,” Ramzi said.
According to Ramzi’s statement, the study time for some students does not even stop when the night ends. Approaching the examinations, quite a few utilize the time after the Asr prayer to review materials and continue until late at night. Subjects like Mathematics, Natural and Social Sciences, as well as religious studies, become the main focus because they require a deeper understanding.
Interestingly, the learning culture in the Maskumambang dormitory environment does not solely rely on reading or memorizing activities. The students develop various learning methods that are considered more effective and enjoyable. Creating discussion groups, quizzes among friends, and the practice of peer teaching have become common sights ahead of the exam period.
“Usually after the night activities, we form study groups. Some make quizzes so it doesn’t get boring. Sometimes we also study while teaching friends. This method actually makes the material easier to understand and remember,” Ramzi explained.
According to Ustadz Mohammad Ibrahim, this condition is one of the factors driving the improvement in students’ achievements, particularly in the religious field. He assesses that this success cannot be separated from the combination of the boarding school learning system, student discipline, and intensive guidance from the dormitory mentors.
MTs and MA Maskumambang, he continued, indeed place the strengthening of Islamic sciences as one of their main advantages. In addition to receiving formal education, the students are also equipped with Islamic boarding school education, which will later be proven by a boarding school diploma upon completing their period of study.
Behind the academic targets to be achieved, there is another value growing strongly within the Maskumambang Boys’ Dormitory environment, namely togetherness. For Ramzi, the support of friends provides its own energy during the examination period.
“I am grateful to live in the dormitory. The environment is comfortable and friends are very supportive. During exams like this, we help each other and remind each other. That is an added value that I feel as a dormitory resident,” he expressed.
Amid the ongoing UAS implementation, the learning atmosphere in the Maskumambang Boys’ Dormitory shows that educational success is not only built through the learning process in the classroom. The habits of mutual support, time-management discipline, and the spirit of learning that grows together become important assets that continue to be nurtured in boarding school life. It is with this preparation that the students strive to navigate each stage of education, while simultaneously building the character that is the hallmark of Maskumambang students.
