Kemdiktisaintek to transform 30 schools into SMA Unggul Garuda by 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) is targeting the transformation of 30 outstanding schools across the country into SMA Unggul Garuda Transformasi by 2026.
“This year, there are plans, God willing, for another 30 Garuda Transformation Schools to be incorporated into the Garuda School ecosystem,” said the Director General of Science and Technology at Kemdiktisaintek, Ahmad Najib Burhani, during the Launching and Socialisation of the Selection of SMA Unggul Garuda Transformasi 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday.
Najib emphasised that the selected SMA and MA schools will not change their status in relation to the ministries overseeing them, whether the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) for SMA or the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) for MA.
He stated that his side will only add several supporting elements to prepare students to attend top universities worldwide.
“In 2025, there are six universities implementing enrichment programmes, namely Universitas Negeri Jakarta, then UI, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional or Undiknas Bali, then Universitas Padjadjaran, ITB, and IPB University,” Najib said.
Najib hopes that with the addition of the number of SMA Unggul Garuda Transformasi this year, more national talents will have the opportunity to access quality education in preparation for Indonesia Emas 2045.
SMA Unggul Garuda is a school with an enhanced pre-university curriculum in a boarding system equivalent to senior high school level, prioritising a STEM-based learning approach.
SMA Unggul Garuda is the realisation of President Prabowo Subianto’s grand vision to bring Indonesian children from all corners of the nation to the world’s best campuses.
Graduates of SMA Unggul Garuda are prepared to continue their studies at top universities worldwide, both domestic and international.
By 2029, the Indonesian Government targets at least 80 new SMA Unggul Garuda schools spread across various regions of Indonesia.