TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka announced that the government will introduce artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the school curriculum beginning in the next academic year.
The AI subject will be available at elementary, junior high, senior high, and vocational school levels.
Gibran, the eldest son of former president Joko Widodo, made the announcement during a public lecture titled Creative Job Opportunity with AI at the Anggrek Campus Auditorium of Binus University in West Jakarta on Friday, May 2, 2025. The event was held in collaboration with the AI AICO community.
"In the upcoming academic year, we will start incorporating AI curriculum or AI subjects at elementary, junior high, senior high, and vocational school levels," he said in an official statement on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
He explained that the decision was made during a closed meeting led by President Prabowo at the State Palace. The government agreed to immediately implement AI education within the national curriculum.
Gibran highlighted the importance of introducing AI education at an early stage, considering its role as a key component of the future. He encouraged younger generations not only to use AI but also to develop innovative solutions that contribute to national and global progress.
He cited several current applications of AI in Indonesia, such as traffic monitoring systems used by PT Jasa Marga during the Eid holiday and face recognition technology implemented by PT KAI.
"Jasa Marga is already using AI. All the staff there are young. They can monitor traffic along toll roads and decide when to apply one-way or contraflow systems. KAI uses advanced cameras with AI face recognition. If there are thieves, they can be identified," he said.
In his closing remarks, Gibran urged young Indonesians to master digital technologies and participate in building the future economy.
"Indonesia never runs out of smart children. They are all creative, and you must be able to embrace the latest technologies including AI, crypto, blockchain, and others," he said.
Gibran first proposed the inclusion of AI and coding in the school curriculum during a coordination meeting on basic and secondary education in the Gandaria area of South Jakarta on November 11, 2024.
"We must not fall behind India. To achieve a Golden Indonesia, we need a golden generation. We want more coding experts, AI experts, machine learning experts, and others," he said at the time.
Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti confirmed that AI and coding will be introduced as elective subjects starting next semester. He noted that although the subjects are not mandatory, they are important and should be taught from the elementary level.
"Of course, mastering technology is important, even necessary, but its use must be directed toward positive activities that benefit society as a whole," Mu’ti said during a press conference at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Central Jakarta on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Hanin Marwah contributed to this report.
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