Minister Abdul Mu'ti Encourages Students to Cycle to School

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti has urged parents to contribute to energy-saving efforts. One way to do this is by taking children to school by bicycle or on foot if the distance between home and school is short.

“If I may appeal, parents should not excessively deliver their children using private vehicles,” said Mu’ti when met at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education office in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. “If the distance is not far, cycle or walk, as long as it is safe and comfortable.”

The appeal was made amid the work-from-home policy targeted at civil servants (ASN). This policy is part of the government’s efforts to save energy in response to global dynamics.

Mu’ti also hopes that local governments can increase facilities for pedestrians or cycling lanes. Adequate local infrastructure, he said, can greatly help the public to adopt environmentally friendly transportation. “There used to be in Jakarta. It’s a shame it’s been removed now. Cycling is healthier. There’s physical movement,” he stated.

In addition to contributing to saving energy resources, Mu’ti said that walking or cycling also makes the body fitter. “Perhaps children can also be encouraged to use public transport or cycle,” he added.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the work-from-home policy every Friday for ASN is expected to optimise a more adaptive work pattern. In addition, this policy is also an effort to reduce the burden of energy and mobility costs.

“As an adaptive and preventive step to face global dynamics, the government has set a work culture transformation policy that encourages changes in more efficient, productive, and digital-based work behaviour,” said Airlangga in a hybrid press conference from Seoul, Republic of Korea, on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

For mobility efficiency, the government has set restrictions on the use of official vehicles by up to 50 percent, except for operational needs and electric vehicles, and encourages the use of public transport. “So reducing official vehicles and using public transport as much as possible,” said Airlangga.