Scouts, Technology and Indonesia’s Front Line for National Progress

Indonesia’s Scout movement faces a test of relevance as technology, artificial intelligence and global challenges reshape the environment in which young people learn and serve. The 65th Scout Day in 2026 is described as a moment for reflection on whether scouting can remain a front line in guiding the country toward progress.

The movement’s traditional activities, including outdoor exploration and knot-tying, no longer define the full scope of scouting. Members now confront rapid technological change, geopolitical dynamics, and challenges involving food and energy security. The article argues that digital technology and AI should not be treated as threats, but as new fuel for learning and self-development.

Technology, however, remains only a tool. The article presents character as the compass that determines whether its power benefits society. Without the moral foundation of the Tri Satya and Dasa Darma, young people may become more vulnerable to bullying, violence, misinformation and the erosion of social concern. Scouts are therefore urged to distinguish carefully between information and to use technological progress for constructive purposes while rejecting its harmful effects.

Scouting education is also moving beyond “learning by doing” toward “learning, creating, and solving”. The approach calls on members to create and address real problems in their communities. The 2026 Scout Day and 12th National Jamboree use the theme “Creating, Innovating, Becoming Skilled and Self-Reliant to Support Food Self-Sufficiency”.

The article connects that theme with the Indonesian government’s second Asta Cita priority, which focuses on national independence and resilience in food, energy and water. For Scouts, food security involves more than planting crops. It also includes character education, appropriate technology, resource management, clean-energy efficiency and entrepreneurship among young people.