Weighing the Sisdiknas Bill for Inclusive Education

The idea of adding the values of Belief in God to the National Education System (Sisdiknas), as proposed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), deserves appreciation as a collective effort to guarantee the quality of Indonesian education in a manner that is historical, ideological, inclusive, and sustainable. This effort elevates and simultaneously reminds the nation of the state foundation as the guiding direction for all educational development in Indonesia.

Furthermore, as the author has previously conveyed in Jurnal Majelis (BP MPR RI, 2018), this idea also represents an effort to strengthen the state’s direction, which contains ethical guidance and serves as a launching pad for every state administration imbued with noble character.

The Kemenag proposal was delivered by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kamaruddin Amin, during a Hearing with Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) at Nusantara I Building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.

The value of Belief in God is proposed for inclusion in the clause of Article 5 of the Sisdiknas Bill concerning the principles of National Education. This proposal is highly strategic because the article can serve as the fundamental thinking or directional guidance underlying the birth of the new Sisdiknas Law.

This aligns with the definition of a principle itself, namely the basis, foundation, or main principle that serves as the foundation for thinking, opining, or acting. Therefore, the principles of National Education are the main principles that underpin the planning, stipulation, and implementation of national education. This article on principles not only determines the face of national education but also determines the direction of its journey and the extent of its role.

Among the arguments presented by Kemenag is that the National Education System must be integrated, that there must be certainty in guaranteeing the quality of Indonesian education, and that there is a need to minimise disparities in state affirmation towards educational institutions.

Furthermore, there is the importance of strengthening a more inclusive national education system. The state must be present to advance science and technology while upholding religious values and national unity for the advancement of civilisation and the welfare of humanity.

These arguments are formally relevant to the principles of formulating, stipulating, and enforcing law, including legislation, namely ensuring that every decision or regulation operates fairly, purposefully, and beneficially.

Meanwhile, substantively, Kemenag’s arguments are also relevant to Indonesia’s identity—borrowing the term of Indonesia’s first president, Ir. Soekarno—as a state of cultured Belief in God. The state makes Belief in God (the Almighty) the main principle in every aspect of national life, including education. Moreover, these values are practised through noble character, akhlaq karimah, and akhlaq insaniyah.

Therefore, in this context, the principles of national education are relevant if continued with cultural principles as contained in the draft Sisdiknas Bill, such as the principles of justice, benefit, affordability, participation, equity, accountability, non-profit, inclusiveness, lifelong learning, learner-centredness, open-system learning, and upholding scientific truth.

The principle of Belief in God within the National Education System can certainly be interpreted as a cultured Belief in God. The basic values of nationhood and statehood are gathered and mobilised through the spirit of humanity, unity, democracy, and wisdom to realise justice.

Kemenag’s proposal not only positions Belief in God as the aspiration of the people but also defines it as an inspiration for the development and improvement of the National Education System. This constitutes a practice of educational ideology that is grounded and sustainable.

As an aspiration, for example, Belief in God is a fundamental spiritual need of all religious Indonesian citizens. Belief in God becomes the conviction, hope, and ideal of religious communities as a Supreme and Almighty power in protecting and blessing Indonesia’s independence, sovereignty, and progress.

Meanwhile, as an inspiration, Belief in God can encourage and stir all religious communities to remain enthusiastic in pursuing education. Among these are the inspirational values of recognition and obedience, religious tolerance, freedom of religion, harmony, peace, and brotherhood.

In the tradition of Islamic society, for example, Belief in God relates to matters connected to the spiritual source as well as the moral source in formulating educational goals. In this regard, the formulation of educational goals always considers and pays attention to the teleology of humanity or the ultimate purpose of human existence, namely servitude to Allah (ubudiyyah), the execution of the function of vicegerency (khilafah), and the attainment of al-falah (happiness in this world and the hereafter).

These three aspects serve as the philosophical basis in formulating educational goals. All three are oriented towards the formation of insan kamil, namely a human being capable of integrating faith, knowledge, deeds, and morals in a continuous and sustainable manner.

By becoming both an aspiration and an inspiration, the explicit inclusion of the diction of Belief in God in the Sisdiknas Bill means that Belief in God not only animates but indeed also embodies the National Education System.

Animating tends to continuously provide spirit, appreciation, or love for the values of Belief in God in the world of education. Meanwhile, embodying focuses more on the process of realising these values into concrete form by displaying, implementing, enlivening, and manifesting the values of Belief in God within the education system and practice.

The practical benefit is that it can bring about firmness, balance, and continuity in the development of national education. National education has thus far emphasised the development of soul and body to create a complete Indonesian human being.