Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education: Primary School Teachers Must Have English Language Skills

Garut (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has announced that this year it has begun implementing a programme to encourage primary school (SD) teachers to acquire English language skills, which they can then teach to students to prepare for global competition.

“There is now an English language training programme for teachers,” said Iwan Junaedi, Director of Schools, School Supervisors, and Educational Personnel at the Directorate General of Teachers and Educational Personnel of Kemendikdasmen, in Garut Regency, West Java, on Wednesday.

Iwan explained that Kemendikdasmen has numerous programmes to improve the quality of education in Indonesia, which must be disseminated to the regional level, including to several school principals or teachers in Garut Regency during the “Strengthening the School Leadership Ecosystem Through Deep Learning Approach” event in Cipanas, Garut.

The English proficiency programme for primary school teachers, he said, is currently prioritised this year for Year 3 primary school teachers, followed by teachers in higher grades.

He stated that the programme to make primary school teachers proficient in foreign languages is planned to be officially launched by Kemendikdasmen in Bandung on Friday, 8 May 2026.

To ensure the success of the English programme for primary school teachers, his side will prepare teaching staff or trainers until the relevant teachers have a foundation for speaking English.

“Yes, there are trainers for subsequent deep learning,” said Iwan.

To date, he continued, Indonesian children still have weaknesses in foreign languages, so in the future, students will be proficient in English and can seize job opportunities abroad.

“So, English language proficiency is a ministry programme, including mastering English without abandoning local languages and the strength of the Indonesian language,” said Iwan Junaedi.