Education Ministry to Rewrite Textbooks, Strengthening STEM Content
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has begun evaluating and rewriting a number of school textbooks to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content. The update is also aimed at reinforcing character education and aligning books with the deep learning approach.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti said the textbook renewal plan had actually been prepared before President Prabowo Subianto issued a directive regarding textbook evaluation.
“Before the President’s directive, there was already planning to rewrite the textbooks that have been in use,” Abdul Mu’ti said after delivering the Government’s Introductory Statement on the 2027 State Budget Bill and Financial Note at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Friday (14/8/2026).
According to Mu’ti, several considerations underpin the textbook rewriting. One of them is ensuring that subject matter contains stronger values and character education while increasing the proportion of STEM. “The emphasis on STEM is in line with the President’s directive,” Mu’ti said.
The update is also being carried out to accommodate changes to content standards set by Kemendikdasmen. The textbooks are expected to become increasingly aligned with the curriculum direction and students’ learning needs.
Mu’ti said the book preparation will also be adjusted to the concept of deep learning currently promoted by Kemendikdasmen. The approach emphasises a learning process that does not stop at memorisation, but encourages conceptual understanding, application of knowledge, and deeper thinking skills.
The evaluation process, Mu’ti said, is already underway. Several books have even reached a stage where they can be printed soon. “The book evaluation is already running and several books are ready to be printed,” he said.
The textbook renewal is in line with President Prabowo’s attention to the quality of learning materials. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya previously said the President had directly reviewed a number of books used by students and found several issues, ranging from easily damaged book materials to font sizes considered too small for primary school children.