Minister: National Integrated Schools Not Yet Applied to Primary Level

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti stated that the implementation of the National Integrated School (SNT) programme will not begin at the primary school level this year due to several considerations, so it will start from the junior and senior high school levels, despite earlier discourse suggesting it would begin at the primary level. “At that time, the President said it was too early, because the school might be far from their homes. So it will be from junior and senior high school, not primary school,” said Minister Abdul Mu’ti during a Media Briefing on the National Integrated School Programme at the Plaza Insan Berprestasi, Building A of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Central Jakarta, on Monday. He further explained that President Prabowo had also directed the ministry to prepare school bus transportation facilities to accommodate the distance between the school and students’ homes, which might be considerable. “Because of that, in accordance with the President’s direction, if the location is somewhat far, it is possible that the facilities we provide will include transportation, such as school buses or other facilities that help them travel to school safely and comfortably,” said Minister Abdul Mu’ti. The Minister also emphasised that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is not cooperating with any party to promise graduation or to profit from the new student admission process for the SNT at the junior and senior high school levels. “The New Student Admission (SPMB) will commence on 21 July to 24 July 2026. We stress that no party can promise graduation or take advantage of the admission process outside the official provisions,” he asserted. He added that the SPMB for the National Integrated School can only be attended by prospective students residing in the same district as the SNT. Therefore, if an SNT is established in Kupang Regency, the SPMB can only be attended by prospective junior and senior high school students domiciled in Kupang Regency.