Indonesia and Singapore to Renew Education MoU, Focusing on AI and Future Collaboration

Indonesian Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, and Singaporean Minister for Education, Desmond Lee, have agreed to strengthen educational collaboration, focusing on the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning and the renewal of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Mu’ti stated that Indonesia faces significant challenges as an archipelagic nation with over 50 million students, many of whom live in remote areas. In line with the President’s policies, the ministry is promoting more flexible distance learning through technology to expand access and reduce educational disparities between regions. He emphasised that the use of AI must be balanced with strengthening students’ reflective and critical thinking skills, as AI has limitations and cannot fully replace humans in understanding language, culture, or local context. The two ministers also discussed opportunities for collaboration with Temasek and Singaporean companies operating in Indonesia to improve education quality, particularly in areas near Singapore such as Sumatra, and to address learning loss. They also explored solutions to ensure the continuity of educational services for Indonesian children in Singapore and discussed improving the competencies of Indonesian educators and migrant workers. Minister Desmond Lee initiated the renewal of the education MoU, which was last agreed upon in 2017, to make it more adaptive and future-oriented ahead of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2027. The meeting also addressed the sustainability of the Singapore Indonesian School, whose land use permit expires in April 2027.