Indonesia expands coding and AI education in schools

Indonesian education officials are pushing for increased digital literacy and academic restructuring. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti reported that only approximately 25 percent of schools in Indonesia currently offer coding and artificial intelligence (AI) as elective subjects. The ministry aims to expand these offerings from grade 5 of elementary school through senior high school to foster early digital expertise.

To support this expansion, Mu’ti emphasized the need for improved teacher readiness and requested support from higher education institutions to provide specialized training. Additionally, the ministry is prioritizing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a ‘5M’ approach designed to make these subjects more accessible and engaging.

Separately, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto addressed the management of academic programs. He urged university rectors to merge similar study programs rather than continuously creating new ones to reduce administrative burdens and simplify the accreditation process. Yuliarto argued that institutions should focus on developing scientific disciplines rather than expanding administrative program counts.