Khofifah Outlines Education Transformation and Regional Innovation in East Java

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa shared the provincial government’s experience in building educational transformation and encouraging regional innovation. She made the remarks before hundreds of participants in the Basic Training for Civil Service Candidates, batches LVI, LVII, LVIII, and LIX of 2026. The event, held at the Centre for Learning and Strategic Policy Management of the National Institute of Public Administration in Makassar, was attended by 163 participants, mostly young lecturers from various universities in Makassar. Governor Khofifah was present as a speaker to deliver material on educational transformation, government innovation, and the strategic role of the state civil apparatus in realising an Advanced Indonesia and the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Khofifah stressed that human resource development must be a top priority in regional development. According to her, educational transformation is not only oriented towards improving school quality but also towards building superior, adaptive human beings capable of responding to the challenges of the times. In front of the prospective civil servants, Khofifah emphasised that the state civil apparatus has a strategic role as an engine of change, not merely as executors of government policy. ‘Civil servants are not just policy implementers, but drivers of change who determine Indonesia’s future. A leader is not measured by the number of programmes, but by the magnitude of the benefits felt by the community,’ Khofifah asserted. Khofifah explained that the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision can only be realised if all regions can improve the quality of their human resources. Therefore, regional development must become the main foundation for national progress. She stressed that regions are not merely objects of development, but subjects of development that have a major role in determining the nation’s success. She stated that education is the most effective instrument for breaking the poverty chain and is the greatest investment in a nation’s future. ‘Everywhere, the formula for breaking the poverty chain is through education, so education must be strengthened for policy makers and become the greatest investment for a nation in welcoming Golden Indonesia 2045,’ she explained. Khofifah continued that educational transformation is not just about improving achievement, but about human resources growing together, developing together, and advancing together to achieve shared prosperity. ‘I very often say no one left behind. This is not solely because of the concept of the SDGs, but because we should grow together, develop together, advance together, and finally prosper together,’ Khofifah advised. Adhering to this belief, East Java has reportedly achieved various distinctions, one of which is ranking first as the province with the highest national state university admissions for seven consecutive years from 2020 to 2026. The East Java Provincial Government, supported by private high schools, vocational schools, and universities, has a strong commitment to education, also demonstrated through the provision of educational scholarships. In 2026, the number of students receiving scholarships was recorded at 81,131 prospective students from private high schools and vocational schools, and 62,000 prospective new students from private universities. Private educational institutions in East Java have shown commitment. ‘In fact, the number of private schools participating in providing scholarships increased by 18.84 percent from 1,772 schools to 2,106 schools. We want every child in East Java to have the same opportunity to obtain a quality education. I think this extraordinary partnership only exists in East Java,’ she revealed. Not only committed to producing academically capable graduates, the East Java Provincial Government is also continuously committed to producing graduates who can have a direct impact on the economy. One way is through the power of impactful vocational education. Various flagship programmes have been implemented, such as artificial intelligence for students, digital learning, the East Java Information Education System, and the development of ‘taruna’ schools in East Java. ‘East Java continues to encourage schools to not only be places of learning but also spaces for students to work and innovate to answer the needs of the job market,’ she said. ‘We need competencies that match market demands, not just diplomas. Now it is more about certificates because certificates can relatively provide a picture of the competencies a person possesses,’ she added. Concluding her presentation, Khofifah reminded the audience that Indonesia is currently experiencing a demographic bonus that must be utilised as best as possible. She invited all training participants to continue improving their capacity to become future leaders who are adaptive, innovative, and provide benefits to the community. ‘Hopefully, this presentation can provide benefits for the young lecturers today, to be broken down according to their respective main duties and functions,’ she hoped. Meanwhile, the Head of the Centre for Learning and Strategic Policy Management of the National Institute of Public Administration in Makassar expressed appreciation for Governor Khofifah’s willingness to share her experience with the training participants. According to him, the various good practices carried out by the East Java Provincial Government can serve as a valuable reference for prospective civil servants in building innovative and impactful governance. ‘East Java currently has the tagline as the New Gateway of the Archipelago and is undoubtedly one of the best provinces in Indonesia. Hopefully, the presence of Governor Khofifah can provide real and needed input for all participants,’ he concluded.