Coding and AI Set to Become Mandatory in Indonesia's Schools: What Educators Need to Do Now
Indonesia's Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, signaled a major shift: coding and artificial intelligence (AI) will move from elective subjects to mandatory learning in schools. This will spike demand for qualified teachers and tighten collaboration between the Ministry and universities, especially the Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah network (PTMA).
The announcement came during the PTMA Chancellor Forum National Working Meeting at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang. The Ministry invited PTMA to co-develop research and implementation across core school programs-from character education to learning habits.
Key points educators should note
- Coding and AI will be compulsory in the near future. Universities are called to help prepare teacher pipelines and curriculum resources.
- PTMA campuses are encouraged to engage in policy research across basic and secondary education programs.
- The Ministry highlighted 5-6 priority programs for collaboration with PTMA to accelerate school reform.
Priority programs outlined by the Ministry
- Revitalization of educational units: not just facilities, but governance, school management, principal capacity, and educator capability. This includes adaptive curricula, character building, and service quality aligned with national and international standards. 16,100+ schools have been revitalized this year with a budget of Rp 16.9 trillion. The target is to sustain progress next year, even with a smaller budget.
- Teacher quality enhancement: 808,000 PPG (Teacher Professional Education) quotas are available. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has been expanded, with teaching experience recognized up to 70% for those who have not completed undergraduate studies.
- Deep learning for pedagogy and character: PTMA can serve as providers and module developers. Starting 2027, English becomes mandatory from Grade 3 in elementary school. Teacher "training" will shift to "education" models that carry certification to support professionalism.
What this means for school leaders and teacher education programs
- Curriculum planning: integrate coding and AI across subjects; map competencies by grade; prepare labs, devices, and safe use policies.
- Staffing: identify and sponsor teachers for PPG; use RPL to fast-track qualified practitioners into certified teaching roles.
- English readiness (Grade 3+ by 2027): assess teacher supply, run bridging programs, and align materials with early literacy standards.
- Governance and school management: adopt clear roles, data routines, and instructional leadership practices; leverage external facilitators where possible.
- Character and pedagogy: embed character outcomes into daily instruction; use formative assessment and project-based learning for depth.
- University-school partnerships: co-develop modules, mentoring, and practice schools; participate in policy research that informs implementation.
Action checklist for the next 3-6 months
- Run a gap analysis on coding, AI, and English teaching capacity (headcount, skills, certification).
- Nominate candidates for PPG and prepare documentation for RPL.
- Form a curriculum task force to map coding/AI integration by grade and subject.
- Pilot 1-2 schools as demonstration sites for governance and deep learning practices.
- Engage a university partner (PTMA or others) for module development and teacher education.
- Draft a budget and resource plan for devices, connectivity, and teacher release time.
Why PTMA involvement matters
The Ministry emphasized that each policy is grounded in academic study and aims to engineer positive social outcomes through schooling. Strategic partnerships with PTMA will help equalize access, uphold inclusion, and build future-ready competencies-while strengthening character education.
Official reference
Upskilling resources for coding and AI teachers
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Context: PTMA Chancellor Forum Rakernas
The National Working Meeting of the PTMA Chancellor Forum (October 16-19, University of Muhammadiyah Malang) served as a platform for policy reflection and government-campus collaboration. The shared goal is clear: high-quality education that delivers impact at scale.
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