Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Appreciates INOVASI Programme in Promoting Safe and Comfortable School Culture
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has expressed its appreciation for INOVASI (Innovation for Indonesian School Children), a primary education partnership between the Australian and Indonesian Governments. The programme aims to improve students’ literacy, numeracy, and character skills, serving as a strategic partner in implementing Regulation No. 6 of 2026 regarding Safe and Comfortable School Culture, as well as Ministerial Decree No. 17 of 2026 regarding Guidelines for the Implementation of Safe and Comfortable School Culture.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, stated that the INOVASI programme is closely linked to the Ministry’s commitment to making schools a ‘second home’ for children. He noted that the new regulations adopt a humanistic, participatory, and inclusive approach, moving away from previous more bureaucratic structures. This approach aligns with ‘deep learning’ principles that prioritise the dignity of students, teachers, and knowledge.
Abdul Mu’ti emphasised that the Ministry is committed to ensuring all children find joy in school, which should serve as a place for celebration. He stressed that the goal is for a humanistic school atmosphere to be felt by students from the moment they enter the school gates.
Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Gita Kamath, noted that ensuring safety and comfort in schools is a priority for the Australian Government. She expressed pride in the partnership with Indonesia and highlighted the importance of piloting these policies to benefit local governments. She mentioned that cities such as Batu, Tubanak, and Tarakan have already begun disseminating these best practices to various regional schools.
Kamath added that the quality of learning is determined not only by curriculum and teacher capacity but also by a safe and comfortable learning environment, which allows children to be more confident and active in their learning.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General of Kemendikdasmen, Suharti, noted that evaluations by INOVASI and the Centre for Character Strengthening (Puspeka) indicate a need for significant support from regional authorities to overcome bureaucratic and administrative hurdles regarding the prevention of violence in schools. She highlighted that INOVASI has been collaborating with the Ministry since 2016.
Rusprita Putri Utami, Head of the Centre for Character Strengthening, stated that the INOVASI programme is currently active in six provinces: East Java, West Java, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan. The programme has been involved since the drafting of the new regulations and has collaborated on developing a ‘Great Character Habituation’ module, which uses a co-curricular approach.
To support these developments, the government has allocated an initial budget of approximately Rp863 million, with potential adjustments based on field requirements. Minister Abdul Mu’ti concluded by urging students to develop their potential earnestly to achieve the ‘Indonesia Emas 2045’ vision.