Pratikno: Primary and Secondary School Students Not Permitted to Use AI Like ChatGPT
JAKARTA — Pratikno, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, stated that the government will restrict the use of instant artificial intelligence by primary and secondary school students.
This was announced by Pratikno during the joint signing of a Decree on Guidelines for Utilisation and Learning of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence at the Ministry of Human Development and Culture office in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
“For example, primary and secondary education students will not be permitted to utilise instant AI, such as asking ChatGPT and so forth,” said Pratikno.
Consequently, Pratikno emphasised that the policy does not mean the government is prohibiting the use of technology in the learning process.
“We need to utilise technology to support education, for example robotic simulation for primary education can use AI, but designed for educational needs,” he said.
“This is to prevent brain rot, to avoid cognitive debt, and to prevent cognitive reduction in children,” he added.
Seven ministries signed the joint decree on guidelines for the utilisation and learning of digital technology and artificial intelligence. The seven ministers were Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Abdul Mu’ti, Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Communication and Information Technology Meutya Hafid, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi, and Minister of Population and Family Planning/Head of BKKBN Wihaji.
“The decree does not obstruct, but rather regulates to mitigate risks on one side, whilst digital technology and artificial intelligence at the same time empower, rather than disempower our children,” said Pratikno.
The use of social media by minors, according to Pratikno, can trigger mental health disorders.
“So if screen time exceeds 7.5 hours, it means green time becomes increasingly small. There are certainly many factors, but adolescents experiencing mental health disorders remain high and continue to increase,” he said.
One cause of the rising mental health disorders amongst minors is addiction to digital technology.