Prabowo Orders Foreign-Language Learning from First Grade
Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto on Friday instructed the government to introduce foreign-language learning from the first grade of elementary school, saying Indonesian children need stronger language skills to compete in the global workforce.
Prabowo identified English, Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and French among the foreign languages he considers important for Indonesian students to learn from an early age.
"We will recruit the best teachers, including foreign-language teachers. Mastering foreign languages is absolutely essential," Prabowo said during the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the parliament complex in Jakarta.
"We will begin foreign-language lessons for our children. From the first grade of elementary school, they must start learning a foreign language," he added in the televised address.
Prabowo said children can learn foreign languages more easily and quickly when instruction begins at an early age.
He framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to improve access to quality education and equip Indonesian students with skills that will strengthen their employment prospects later in life.
"Our children must have access to the best education so that when they eventually enter the job market, they have greater capabilities and can find opportunities anywhere," Prabowo said.
In May this year, the government announced that it will introduce English as a compulsory subject for elementary school students beginning in the 2027 academic year.
Although English has long been taught informally or as an additional subject in many Indonesian schools, public schools have generally treated it as a mandatory subject only from junior high school onward.
However, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti said the government plans to introduce English instruction at an earlier stage of education.
“Starting in 2027, English will become a mandatory subject beginning from the third grade of elementary school,” Abdul said.
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