ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the formative trajectory of institutional identity of agencies dealing with Islamic education in Aceh and Kelantan, and why different institutional identities have managed to take root in these two places. It argues that despite the two areas' shared legacy of Islamic learning, Aceh has been able to preserve the uniqueness of its Islamic educational tradition while Islamic education in Kelantan is slowly being "federalized" by the government in Putrajaya. The chapter starts with a historical background of Islamic education in Aceh, followed by a socio-political analysis that explains how Islamic education in the province has developed a localized identity since the early 1900s. Ministry officials at the educational office in Kelantan, who are locals, believe that the best way to improve the conditions of Islamic education at the local level is through the federal government. Increased centralization by Sukarno's regime had several impacts on Islamic education in Aceh.
