Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Considers Making AI and Coding Compulsory Subjects from Primary to Upper Secondary School

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has proposed that material on artificial intelligence (AI) and coding will become compulsory subjects taught from primary school (SD) to upper secondary school (SMA). Abdul Mu’ti said that they are currently in the process of preparing the infrastructure and teacher readiness.

“Once the teachers are ready and we have provided the necessary infrastructure, AI and coding will become compulsory subjects at all levels of education,” said Mu’ti in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Sunday (17/5/2026).

Abdul Mu’ti said that currently, some schools already offer AI and coding as optional subjects. According to him, these subjects are only being implemented by schools that are ready in terms of infrastructure and teaching staff.

“We have also trained teachers to strengthen education and digital skills through AI and coding training. Currently, AI and coding have become optional subjects in schools that are ready,” explained Mu’ti.

On this occasion, Mu’ti said that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has also launched a program to improve character education for students. One of them is by training seven habits for Indonesian children, namely the habit of waking up early, praying, exercising, eating healthy food, being eager to learn, being social, and going to bed early.

“We have also issued a ‘Happy Morning’ policy which contains three activities, namely singing the Indonesia Raya song in order to foster nationalism, then doing Senam Anak Indonesia Hebat (Great Indonesian Children’s Gymnastics), and praying together before teaching and learning activities are carried out,” he added.

According to Mu’ti, efforts to build students’ character are also carried out through deep learning. He said that teachers have been given training so that the program is successful.

“We are also strengthening these programs with a deep learning policy where we started training teachers to implement deep learning, which also strengthens character education by strengthening nationalism,” said Mu’ti.