Casal dels Infants – Improving education standards remains a critical focus for Indonesia as the country seeks to overcome challenges in teaching quality, infrastructure, and access to education. A UNESCO report from 2012 highlighted Indonesia’s teaching quality ranking at 64th globally, underscoring the urgent need for reform. In response, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has introduced several programs aimed at revitalizing the education system, emphasizing inclusivity, infrastructure improvements, and nurturing exceptional talents to realize the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
Indonesia’s education sector grapples with significant disparities in facilities and infrastructure, particularly between the western and eastern regions. Lusia Liaw, coordinator of the Community Movement for Caring for School Children (Gemas), emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues.
“The condition of students learning at schools remains a serious concern, including the lack of human resources and inadequate infrastructure,” she stated.
To address this, the government has prioritized a massive school renovation program. Data from the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry reveals that 22,000 schools require urgent refurbishment. With a budget allocation of Rp20 trillion (around $1.2 billion), the initiative seeks to improve learning environments and reduce disparities.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti explained that his ministry awaits the president’s directive to collaborate with the Public Works Ministry, ensuring efficient implementation. The ministry has also collected detailed data on schools targeted for renovation, allowing funds to be distributed directly to operators to manage projects based on specific needs.
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Inclusivity is a cornerstone of the government’s education reform, especially for underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. Minister Mu’ti stressed the importance of alternative education models, as building traditional schools in these areas may not always be effective due to high costs and logistical challenges.
Instead, learning activities can take place in community spaces, such as places of worship or other gathering spots where children naturally convene. Collaborations with organizations like Muhammadiyah also play a crucial role in supporting education programs in these regions.
In addition to these efforts, the government plans to establish free schools, known as “Sekolah Rakyat,” for children from underprivileged and extremely poor families. Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar revealed that these schools would follow a boarding school model, ensuring students’ nutritional needs are met while keeping them under their parents’ guidance. This program is currently being trialed at three locations in the Greater Jakarta area.
Teacher welfare and professional development are also key priorities under the Prabowo administration. Programs to enhance teacher competencies and expand professional education are underway, aiming to create a robust foundation for improving education quality nationwide.
Additionally, the government plans to establish “Garuda” top-tier high schools to identify and nurture the nation’s best talents. These schools aim to provide exceptional students with access to advanced resources and learning opportunities, enabling them to contribute to Indonesia’s long-term development goals.
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Digitalization is another focus area, with programs like the Merdeka Curriculum and education digitalization efforts aimed at equipping students with the skills needed for a technology-driven future. The government has also continued the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship program, which supports students pursuing higher education both domestically and internationally.
Through these initiatives, the administration is working to bridge the education gap and lay the groundwork for a brighter, more inclusive future for Indonesia’s younger generations.
