Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Maps Indonesian Language Proficiency More Inclusively

The Language Development and Fostering Agency (Badan Bahasa) of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is expanding the mapping of Indonesian language proficiency to formulate targeted and inclusive language policies. Head of Badan Bahasa Hafidz Muksin stated in Jakarta on Wednesday that the agency continues to broaden the scope of mapping for the utilisation of the Indonesian Language Proficiency Test (UKBI) while ensuring this language service can be accessed inclusively. One such effort is the development of the UKBI Adaptif Disabilitas Rungu, designed to provide equal opportunities for the hearing impaired to measure their Indonesian language proficiency. “Kemendikdasmen is committed to bridging the right to inclusive education and language as mandated in Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, which includes the right to expression, communication, and access to information,” said Hafidz. He explained that the development of this service began in 2024 and was tested nationally in October 2025, involving 222 participants with hearing impairments from various regions. The exam materials were adapted to the participants’ language experiences, which rely more heavily on visual and written information, without reducing the quality of measurement. On the same occasion, Expert Staff to the Minister for Educational Technology Moch. Abduh said the service will continue to be developed to become more responsive to community needs. “We will continue to prepare various forms of adaptation according to needs and technological developments,” he said. Through increasingly broad and inclusive language proficiency mapping, Kemendikdasmen hopes that UKBI results can become a foundation for learning development, literacy improvement, and the formulation of more effective, data-based language and education policies that reach all levels of society. For information, the 2025 mapping results show the National Indonesian Language Proficiency Score stands at 64.23. Throughout the year, the Adaptive UKBI was taken by 321,383 participants from 38 provinces and 493 regencies/cities. Participation also came from 243 foreign nationals originating from 51 countries.