Prabowo's Instructions: Presidential Palace Now Open for Student Visits
President Prabowo Subianto has opened the Presidential Palaces across Indonesia to school students for tours and history lessons. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that this step is intended to enhance learning and education for the nation’s future generations.
One group of students touring and learning in the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4/2026) came from SMKN 19 Jakarta. Teddy accompanied the students on a tour of Istana Merdeka and Istana Negara in Jakarta.
“Following the instructions and wishes of President Prabowo, we are opening the Palace to schoolchildren,” said Teddy while accompanying the SMKN 19 Jakarta students at Istana Negara.
Teddy explained that one of Prabowo’s largest programmes is investing in building and shaping the young generation. This includes free nutritious meals (MBG), school renovations, toilets, digital learning TVs, people’s schools, integrated schools, Sekolah Garuda, teacher work incentives, and more.
“So today, we are opening the Palace to schoolchildren, for the nation’s future generations. What are the activities? Earlier, there was a discussion and question-and-answer session in the hall and building, then we took them on a tour, introduced the nation’s history, government concepts, and invited them to see the Palace,” said Teddy.
“We invite them to see the places where major decisions for this nation have been made, for what purpose? To give them the desire to aspire as high as possible for this nation,” he added.
The school student visits are not limited to Istana Merdeka and Istana Negara but extend to all other Presidential Palaces across Indonesia. There are a total of eight Presidential Palaces, each opened to schoolchildren.
“For those outside Jakarta or even outside Java, they will be facilitated to come here; each school can register with the Ministry of State Secretariat, and also the Cabinet Secretariat office, register, and then there might be selection, perhaps once or twice a week, taking turns to come here.”
Teddy explained that Prabowo wants to open the Palace to schoolchildren, as exemplified by the enthusiastic students from SMKN 19 Jakarta. Teddy revealed that almost all students from SMKN 19 Jakarta were visiting the Presidential Palace for the first time.
Teddy said there is no special selection for students to visit the Presidential Palace. Schools can register with Kemensetneg and Setkab so that primary, junior high, and high school students can visit the President’s office.
“The President has seen this and wants to let them enter the Palace, introduce it, let them see it directly. They see it, they can have the experience there, and insyaallah they will have big aspirations; perhaps there is no selection. So please register as I mentioned earlier, and then it will be arranged by the committee,” he added.