Indonesia to launch National Integrated Schools this year

Indonesia is set to launch a new National Integrated School program this year, aiming to cultivate highly competitive graduates for the global arena. Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti announced the phased rollout, with schools to be established progressively in each district across the nation.

This initiative is a directive from President Prabowo Subianto, intended to provide advanced educational institutions that nurture high-achieving students. Mu'ti clarified that the National Integrated Schools differ from prior government programs like the boarding-based SMA Unggul Garuda Baru and SMA Unggul Garuda Transformasi, which focused on STEM and international standards, respectively. The new schools will operate on a non-residential model.

President Prabowo's latest instructions have shifted the focus to the district level, prioritizing junior high schools (SMP) for the initial phase. These schools are specifically designed to accommodate students demonstrating extraordinary intellectual capabilities within their respective regions. The ministry is currently finalizing technical preparations, including curriculum development, teacher recruitment, and identifying suitable locations for implementation.

Mu'ti emphasized that the program is designed to meet the demands of an increasingly open and competitive global landscape, where high-level competence is paramount. The government is accelerating the selection of educators and mapping out districts best prepared to adopt this new educational system, with the goal of commencing construction and operation within the current academic year.