Indonesia will introduce English as a compulsory subject for elementary school students beginning in the 2027 academic year, the government announced on Sunday. The policy, announced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, aims to improve students' global competitiveness from an early age.
Under the new regulation, English will be taught starting from the third grade (approximately age 9) in all public elementary schools. Previously, English was only an optional or extracurricular subject at the elementary level, with formal instruction beginning in junior high school.
Education Minister Nadiem Makarim stated that the decision follows a pilot program and consultations with education experts. The ministry plans to train teachers and develop a standardized curriculum before the 2027 rollout.
The policy has received mixed reactions. Some educators welcome the move as a way to boost English proficiency, which is seen as key for economic development. Others express concerns about teacher readiness and the potential burden on students already studying Indonesian, regional languages, and other subjects.
Indonesia's English proficiency index has lagged behind many Asian neighbors, ranking 15th out of 24 countries in the region in the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index. The government hopes this initiative will improve those scores over the long term.
