French Compulsory in Schools, Expert Warns of Unresolved Fundamental Education Issues
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Education expert Ina Liem has urged the government to prioritise resolving fundamental issues in national education before proposing French as a compulsory national subject.
Ina warned that the government must address numerous pressing concerns, including low literacy rates, disparities in education quality, and teacher shortages.
“We must also consider the on-ground realities. We still face challenges in basic literacy, teacher shortages in many regions, educational quality disparities, and the need to improve English proficiency,” Ina Liem told Kompas.com on Friday, 29 May 2026.
“Mastering foreign languages allows Indonesian children to access global knowledge, culture, diplomacy, and employment opportunities,” she added. However, Ina stressed that fundamental issues should be resolved first.
“The question isn’t whether French is beneficial—it certainly is. The real question is whether making it compulsory for all Indonesian students is the most realistic and impactful priority at present,” she said.
This comes after President Prabowo Subianto previously stated that Portuguese would be made compulsory, then later mentioned French as a required subject in schools.
“Do not let statements about widespread learning of certain foreign languages during state visits remain unimplemented,” Ina cautioned.
She noted that presidential statements are perceived by the public as official national policy directions.
“If unrealistic proposals keep emerging without execution, public trust will gradually erode,” Ina said.
She argued that foreign language classes should be optional, tailored to regional needs and student interests, rather than a compulsory national subject.
“In my view, it is more appropriate for French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, or other foreign languages to be offered as electives based on regional demands and student preferences, rather than automatically becoming compulsory nationwide,” Ina said.