Why Garuda Schools Will Use Four Curricula Simultaneously
Director General of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ahmad Najib Burhani, has confirmed that Garuda Schools will employ four curricula simultaneously in their learning system. The model is described as an effort to strengthen science and technology talent whilst opening access to quality education outside Java.
The four curricula comprise the national curriculum as the primary academic foundation, a character curriculum to build student leadership and integrity, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) curriculum to strengthen science and technology competencies, and an international/global curriculum to open access and global competitiveness.
According to Najib, strengthening STEM is one of the principal reasons for establishing the Garuda Schools. He noted that the demand for science and technology experts in Indonesia is high, particularly to support industrialisation and downstream processing. However, interest in and the ecosystem for STEM education remain limited.
"Our university graduates are not yet dominated by STEM fields, despite enormous industry demand. Therefore, the ecosystem must begin at the senior secondary school level," he said at a press conference on the socialisation of New Student Admissions for Garuda Schools at the Ministry in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Furthermore, Najib explained that the Garuda Schools are designed on a foundation he termed "the one per cent rule" — the idea that the state needs to facilitate approximately one per cent of students with exceptional ability or genius-level talent who have hitherto not received optimal support.
"Often when we speak of inclusivity, the focus is on disabled groups and other vulnerable communities. But there is a segment of society that is frequently overlooked — highly gifted children. They are few in number, but their potential is enormous," Najib said in his presentation.
Unlike elite schools that have historically been concentrated on the island of Java, Garuda Schools are being built in regions assessed as having great potential but minimal access to quality educational facilities.
The first four locations are:
- East Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands
- Soe, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara
- South Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi
- Tanjung Selor, Bulungan, North Kalimantan
Najib cited several regions such as East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, and Papua as having outstanding student potential but limited access to quality schools. In North Kalimantan, for instance, some financially able parents choose to send their children to school in Malaysia due to the lack of elite schooling options in the area.
In addition to the four schools set to begin operating from June 2026, the government is preparing construction in several other regions, including Mempawah (West Kalimantan), Rejang Lebong (Bengkulu), Manokwari and Merauke (Papua), as well as several locations in Maluku.
The four curricula comprise the national curriculum as the primary academic foundation, a character curriculum to build student leadership and integrity, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) curriculum to strengthen science and technology competencies, and an international/global curriculum to open access and global competitiveness.
According to Najib, strengthening STEM is one of the principal reasons for establishing the Garuda Schools. He noted that the demand for science and technology experts in Indonesia is high, particularly to support industrialisation and downstream processing. However, interest in and the ecosystem for STEM education remain limited.
"Our university graduates are not yet dominated by STEM fields, despite enormous industry demand. Therefore, the ecosystem must begin at the senior secondary school level," he said at a press conference on the socialisation of New Student Admissions for Garuda Schools at the Ministry in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Furthermore, Najib explained that the Garuda Schools are designed on a foundation he termed "the one per cent rule" — the idea that the state needs to facilitate approximately one per cent of students with exceptional ability or genius-level talent who have hitherto not received optimal support.
"Often when we speak of inclusivity, the focus is on disabled groups and other vulnerable communities. But there is a segment of society that is frequently overlooked — highly gifted children. They are few in number, but their potential is enormous," Najib said in his presentation.
Unlike elite schools that have historically been concentrated on the island of Java, Garuda Schools are being built in regions assessed as having great potential but minimal access to quality educational facilities.
The first four locations are:
- East Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands
- Soe, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara
- South Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi
- Tanjung Selor, Bulungan, North Kalimantan
Najib cited several regions such as East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, and Papua as having outstanding student potential but limited access to quality schools. In North Kalimantan, for instance, some financially able parents choose to send their children to school in Malaysia due to the lack of elite schooling options in the area.
In addition to the four schools set to begin operating from June 2026, the government is preparing construction in several other regions, including Mempawah (West Kalimantan), Rejang Lebong (Bengkulu), Manokwari and Merauke (Papua), as well as several locations in Maluku.