Higher Education Minister Delegates Distance Learning Policy to Universities
Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto stated that he is fully delegating distance learning (PJJ) policies to individual universities. Brian explained that only the universities or programme heads know which courses can be conducted in a hybrid format (combining in-person and online) or via PJJ.
“The programme knows which courses, being knowledge-based, can be done hybrid or PJJ,” said Brian when met at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology office in South Jakarta on Monday, 6 April 2026.
However, for intensive courses such as calculations, formula derivations, or practicals, Brian stated that universities must not implement PJJ. “Would veterinary medicine dissect animals via PJJ?” he remarked. Therefore, Brian is delegating the PJJ policy back to the universities as long as the course can be taught remotely.
In response to the work-from-home policy, Brian requested that each university arrange lecturers’ teaching schedules on specific days. “For example, lecturers teach fully from Monday to Thursday. On Friday, they can work from home,” he said.
According to Brian, having lecturers work from home one day is more efficient. Additionally, he said, students would not need to commute back and forth to campus if the system runs smoothly.
Previously, the government set a work-from-home or WFH policy once a week for civil servants (ASN). This policy is implemented to save fuel amid global oil price fluctuations due to the war between the United States and Israel against Iran in the Middle East.
The policy was announced by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto during an official visit to Seoul, South Korea. “The implementation of work from home for ASN in central and regional agencies is carried out for one working day per week,” said Airlangga, as quoted from the official Presidential Secretariat website on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Airlangga stated that the WFH scheme for ASN is regulated through a circular from the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform as well as the Minister of Home Affairs. He said this policy also aims to encourage digital-based government governance.
The designated WFH day is every Friday. According to Airlangga, Fridays tend to be less busy than other days. “We chose Friday because Fridays are half-days, meaning not as full as Monday to Thursday,” he said.