Education Minister Ensures Coding and AI Subjects Support Student Learning
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has assured that the introduction of coding and artificial intelligence (AI) subjects are safe and will support student teaching and learning activities, including for children under 16 years old.
The Education Minister emphasised that the two new subjects aim to equip students with proficiency in using coding and AI.
“The purpose of coding and AI in schools is firstly to develop skills—the ability to use coding and AI. Secondly, it is to support learning activities. So it is not completely open-ended,” said Minister Abdul Mu’ti following the signing of a joint ministerial decree on guidelines for AI use in education in Jakarta on Thursday.
He further explained that instruction in both subjects will incorporate ethical guidelines, particularly regarding AI usage.
The Ministry has also supplemented both subjects with teaching materials developed by the Ministry of Education team to ensure that coding and AI instruction supports student learning activities.
“Therefore, we can guarantee that what is being taught is the safe use of coding and AI that supports learning,” stated Minister Abdul Mu’ti.
The coding and AI subjects are now available as elective subjects in schools prepared to implement them, being taught progressively in Year 5 primary schools, junior secondary schools, and senior secondary schools and vocational schools.
The government has simultaneously introduced social media restrictions for children under 16 through the Communications and Digital Ministry Regulation Number 9 of 2026. This regulation implements Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the governance of electronic systems for child protection (PP Tunas).
The implementation of social media restrictions for children under 16 will apply to YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X and similar platforms, coming into effect progressively from 28 March 2026.