Government opens opportunities for 30 high schools to join the Garuda Elite High School ecosystem
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), is opening opportunities for 30 SMA/MA in Indonesia to join the Garuda Elite High School Transformation ecosystem this year.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto, at the Launching and Socialisation event for the Selection of Garuda Elite High School Transformation 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday, stated that this programme is a strategic step in building an integrated education ecosystem between secondary and higher education.
“The Garuda Elite High School Transformation programme is an important bridge connecting secondary education with higher education, designed to promote quality education that can support and lead students to produce graduates with global competitiveness, enabling them to continue their studies at the best universities in the world and domestically,” he said.
Minister Brian explained that the Garuda Elite High School Transformation is a development programme for SMA and MA selected based on their track record in fostering students’ academic achievements. The programme aims to form an elite generation that is characterful, critically thinking, and globally competitive, as well as capable of contributing to Indonesia’s sustainable development.
“In 2025, there are six universities conducting enrichment programmes, namely Jakarta State University, then UI, National Education University or Undiknas Bali, then Padjadjaran University, ITB, and IPB University,” he said.
Najib stated that various enrichment programmes are offered, covering school management strengthening through training and collaborative research mentoring, teacher capacity enhancement through international Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) training, school counsellor development, university application preparation programmes for abroad, and other learning enhancement programmes.
Director General Najib revealed that in 2025, there are already 12 schools that are part of this programme, and in 2026, it is targeted to add around 30 new schools as part of the development plan to 80 schools by 2029.
The required stages include school account registration through the registration website, filling in school profile data (school identity, accreditation, curriculum, principal data, and contact person), as well as filling in student and alumni data including the number of active students and alumni data from the last three years.
Furthermore, schools must upload a number of requirement documents such as school domicile certificate, valid accreditation certificate, facilities and infrastructure data, and teacher and education personnel data.
Then, student achievement data, alumni data accepted into domestic and international universities, recommendation letter from related institutions, and signed integrity pact.
The entire selection process is conducted transparently through administrative and substantive stages according to the set schedule.