Prabowo plans major investment in education, research

President Prabowo Subianto revealed plans on Thursday to substantially increase government investment in education and research, emphasizing its critical role in driving Indonesia's capacity for innovation and scientific advancement. Speaking to 150 researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Prabowo outlined a vision for a revitalized education system.

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To achieve innovation, breakthroughs, discoveries, and patents, the foundation is education.

His administration intends to undertake nationwide renovations of school buildings, expand the reach of elite public schools, and significantly increase funding allocated to research and development (R&D). Prabowo articulated that a strong educational foundation is paramount for achieving innovation, breakthroughs, discoveries, and patents. "That is why I want to make a major investment in education for our future generations," he stated, adding his desire to renovate every school and build elite institutions where top students can be selected and prepared for leading global universities.

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That is why I want to make a major investment in education for our future generations. I want to renovate every school, improve their physical infrastructure, and build elite schools where the brightest students can be selected and prepared to pursue studies at the world's leading universities.

The elite Garuda Schools (Sekolah Garuda) will adopt the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum to ensure students are educated to world-class standards, aiming for acceptance into top international universities. Indonesia is also pursuing partnerships between domestic universities and prestigious overseas institutions, citing ongoing cooperation with the UK's Russell Group. Prabowo described education as a "long-term investment."

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We must acknowledge that our investment in research and development is still very small, far below where it should be.

Acknowledging a historical deficit, Prabowo admitted that Indonesia has underinvested in research and development, describing current investment levels as "very small, far below where it should be." He pledged to correct this imbalance, stating, "This is something we need to correct, and going forward we will work to improve it." However, Prabowo did not disclose specific figures for the planned funding increases or their effective dates.

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This is something we need to correct, and going forward we will work to improve it.