Minister Clarifies Prabowo's Intent on Foreign Language Instruction from Primary School

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has clarified the meaning behind President Prabowo Subianto’s statement expressing a desire for foreign languages to be taught from the first grade of primary school. Mu’ti stated that the statement does not mean foreign languages will immediately become a dedicated subject for primary school students. He explained that foreign languages other than English are more directed towards an introductory phase. “The intention is not language in the sense of a specific subject, but rather an introduction to foreign languages, especially for primary school,” Mu’ti said at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday (14/8). He said that for English, the government has prepared a policy to make it a compulsory subject starting from the third grade of primary school in 2027. “For English, it will indeed become a compulsory subject starting from the third grade of primary school in 2027. That is for English. Now, for other languages, it will just be an introduction,” he said. Mu’ti noted that the teaching of foreign languages other than English is already being carried out in several schools, particularly at higher levels of education. “But for the higher levels, several schools are already doing this. Several schools are already teaching foreign languages other than English, such as Mandarin and Korean,” he said. Previously, Prabowo had expressed his wish for foreign languages to be taught starting from primary school. Prabowo stated that foreign language skills are an absolute necessity that Indonesian children must master. “Foreign languages are an absolute must, we must master them. We will start foreign languages for our children from primary school, brothers and sisters, from the first grade they must start foreign languages,” Prabowo said during the MPR Annual Session at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday (14/8). Prabowo mentioned several languages he considered important to introduce to children, including English, Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and French. “The most important languages, English, Mandarin, Arabic, also Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, from a young age under 11 or 12 years old they learn faster. Our children must have access to the best education,” he said.