Qodari: Mastery of Foreign Languages Key to Facing Global Competition

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Government Communication Agency (Bakom) Chief Muhammad Qodari stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to teach French across all education levels aligns with increasingly competitive global demands.

According to Qodari, mastering foreign languages is a key asset for enhancing Indonesia’s human resource competitiveness on the international stage.

“The world is becoming increasingly global, so one of the requirements for progress is language proficiency,” Qodari said after attending a press conference for PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia’s preparations in Jakarta on Sunday.

Currently, several schools offer foreign language options beyond Indonesian and English, such as Mandarin, Japanese, and others.

“Language learning isn’t mandatory; for instance, it can be optional in various schools. Besides Indonesian, there are now options such as Mandarin and English,” he explained.

Qodari noted that the languages mentioned by President Prabowo, including French, are international languages with significant roles in global relations, education, and economic cooperation.

“The languages cited by the President are international ones, so the technical arrangements will need to be handled by the Directorate General of Basic and Secondary Education,” he added.

During his state visit to Paris, France, on Thursday (28 May), President Prabowo Subianto instructed the expansion of French language education across all Indonesian education levels as part of strengthening educational cooperation with France.

According to President Prabowo, mastering foreign languages, including French, is crucial for preparing the younger generation to navigate evolving global dynamics, as Indonesia-France relations grow tighter across various sectors.