Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education: Children Under Seven May Enter Primary School

Jakarta — The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) said prospective students aged under seven may still begin primary education provided the pupil is deemed ready to participate in classroom learning. Director-General of Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, and Non-Formal and Informal Education Gogot Suharwoto said the policy update concerns the age limit for prospective pupils at the primary level through Permendikdasmen Number 3 of 2025 on the System for Admissions of New Students (SPMB).

‘So for primary school SPMB there is an age exception for children, but with conditions. The key is that the child is ready to participate in primary school learning,’ Gogot said after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Child-Friendly SPMB at Plaza Insan Berprestasi, Building A, Kemendikdasmen, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.

He further explained that prospective pupils entering primary education aged 6 years to a minimum of 5 years 6 months as of 1 July of the running year must possess intelligence and/or special talents and psychological readiness.

This intelligence and readiness must be accompanied by a letter of certification from an expert with authority to legitimise such claims, such as a psychologist.

‘So there must be a letter stating that the child is indeed ready. From whom? From the expert, the psychologist trusted in the local area; they will know who has the authority, and such a child can be admitted to school. So it does not have to be seven years old,’ Gogot said.

Himmatul Aliyah, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the same event expressed appreciation for the updated age limit for primary school entrants.

She noted that there had been public protests about age-based exclusions, with some children dropping out of school because they were denied entry based on age.

‘Terkait usia peserta didik, Pak Menteri kalau tidak salah sudah memberikan keringanan terkait usia yang tidak lagi harus tujuh tahun. Jadi, kami berterima kasih, mengapresiasi kebijakan yang diluncurkan terkait dengan usia,’ she said.

The issue, she added, is also being discussed in the National Education System Bill (RUU Sisdiknas).