Indonesia Education Minister announces language and STEM reforms

Indonesia's Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, has outlined new educational initiatives following directives from President Prabowo Subianto.

Regarding language instruction, Mu'ti clarified that while foreign languages will be introduced as early as first grade, they will serve as an introduction rather than a formal subject for most. However, English is slated to become a mandatory subject for third-grade students starting in 2027. The Minister noted that some schools already teach languages such as Mandarin and Korean, and certain countries have offered teaching assistance to support these efforts.

Additionally, the Ministry is rewriting several textbooks to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) content, in alignment with presidential guidance. The new materials will also focus on character education and a ‘deep learning’ approach, which prioritizes conceptual understanding and critical thinking over rote memorization. Evaluation of these books is currently underway, with some titles ready for printing.