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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesia to Integrate Anti-LGBTQ+ Content into School Curriculum

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs plans to integrate anti-LGBTQ+ content into the national curriculum.
  • The move aims to protect children from perceived negative influences and threats to the nation's future.
  • This initiative aligns with a presidential regulation identifying LGBTQ+ cultural spread as a non-military national defense threat.

Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs is preparing to strengthen the national curriculum by integrating content aimed at protecting children from the perceived spread of LGBTQ+ culture, which the ministry deems a threat to the nation's future.

Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Romo Muhammad Syafi'i, emphasized that safeguarding children from various negative influences in the digital space is a government priority. He highlighted the "National Movement for a Safe and Comfortable Space for Children" initiative, which spans homes, schools, public spaces, and the digital realm.

Our children must be free from negative influences that are so powerful now, including programs for the spread of LGBTQ culture.

— Romo Muhammad Syafi'iDeputy Minister of Religious Affairs, explaining the rationale behind the curriculum changes.

"Our children must be free from negative influences that are so powerful now, including programs for the spread of LGBTQ culture," Syafi'i stated during the Muharram Islamic Literacy Festival. He referenced Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2024, which reportedly identifies the spread of LGBTQ+ culture as a non-military threat to national defense.

Alhamdulillah, colleagues at the Ministry of Religious Affairs are developing a curriculum that will be inserted into the ongoing curriculum. Again, the orientation is for children, because the future is about children, not about us.

— Romo Muhammad Syafi'iDetailing the process of curriculum development.

In response, the ministry is developing curriculum materials to be incorporated into the existing education system. "Alhamdulillah, colleagues at the Ministry of Religious Affairs are developing a curriculum that will be inserted into the ongoing curriculum. Again, the orientation is for children, because the future is about children, not about us," Syafi'i said.

Beyond curriculum adjustments, the ministry is encouraging more creative activities for children, such as competitions, arts, literacy, and science introductions based on the Quran. Syafi'i believes these engaging approaches are more effective in building the moral resilience of the younger generation. "Whatever programs are created, there must be a large portion oriented towards children," he added.

Whatever programs are created, there must be a large portion oriented towards children.

— Romo Muhammad Syafi'iEmphasizing the focus on children in all educational initiatives.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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