Indonesia considers ending automatic grade promotion for students

The Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is considering a policy to end automatic grade promotion for students. Minister Abdul Mu'ti stated that if approved, the policy could be implemented starting from the 2027 academic year.

The goal of the proposed policy is to improve educational quality and foster a more serious learning attitude and competitive spirit among students. The Minister emphasized that the decision to hold a student back must be based on academic studies and expert input to ensure it is fair and effective.

Experts warn that implementing such a policy requires a robust decision-making system to avoid two types of errors: ‘false negative decisions,’ where competent students are held back, and ‘false positive decisions,’ where students who have not met essential competencies are promoted. The latter can lead to widening competency gaps in higher grades. The government is currently conducting academic studies and seeking expert recommendations before finalizing the regulation.