Prabowo Pushes for Foreign Language Learning from First Grade of Primary School

President Prabowo Subianto is encouraging the strengthening of foreign language learning in Indonesia starting from the primary school level. He conveyed the idea that students should begin receiving foreign language lessons from the first grade of primary school as part of efforts to prepare the younger generation for increasingly open global job competition. This was stated by Prabowo in his speech at the 2026 MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, 14 August 2026. According to Prabowo, mastery of foreign languages is not only related to academic ability but can also be an important asset when someone enters the workforce. Therefore, the government is deemed necessary to provide access to foreign language learning as early as possible. “Whatever the subject, we will gather the best teachers, including for foreign languages. Foreign languages must absolutely be mastered by us,” said President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo revealed that foreign language learning is expected to begin when children are in the first grade of primary school. He mentioned several languages considered to have strategic value because they are widely used or are related to countries that play an important role in the world. “We will start foreign languages for our children from primary school, from the first grade they must start foreign languages, the most important languages: English, Mandarin, Arabic, also Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French,” he said. This encouragement is based on the view that children have a relatively faster ability to learn languages when they are still at an early age. With learning starting from primary school, mastery of foreign languages is expected to develop gradually until they reach productive age. “From a young age, under 11 or 12 years old, they learn faster. Our children must have access to the best education so that later, when they enter the job market, they have more abilities, they can be accepted anywhere, they can work with any party,” he said. In addition to English, Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and French, Prabowo also highlighted the importance of learning the Russian language. According to him, Russia has strengths in the fields of science and technology, so mastery of the language can open wider access to knowledge and opportunities for international cooperation.