Mendikdasmen: Coding Dan AI Dirahkan Jadi Matajak Wajib

JAKARTA - Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti said that coding and artificial intelligence (AI), which are currently options, will be directed into mandatory subjects.

"The need for coding and AI teachers will increase sharply, so the role of universities as education partners is needed," said the Minister of Education and Culture at the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah University Chancellor Forum (PTMA) at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) campus in Malang, East Java, Friday (17/10) night, reported by ANTARA.

Currently, he continued, coding and AI are still chosen subjects, but in the future it will be a mandatory lesson for students.

On that occasion, Abdul Mu'ti also opened up opportunities for PTMA to participate in policy research (policy research) related to various basic and secondary education programs, including character education and student learning habits.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is open. Whatever university needs, as long as it is relevant to the direction of national education development, the Ministry of Education and Culture is ready to partner.

Meanwhile, in his presentation, Abdul Mu'ti emphasized the importance of synergy between the government and religious universities, especially the Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah campus in guarding national education reforms.

He said that currently the Ministry of Education and Culture has five to six priority programs that can be run collaboratively with PTMA.

First, the revitalization of educational units, which not only focuses on physical improvements and school infrastructure, also includes improving the management system, governance, as well as increasing the capacity of school principals and educators.

This program is directed so that schools in various regions are able to manage learning independently and efficiently with the support of consultants and professional facilitators.

The revitalization also includes the preparation of curricula that is adaptive to the needs of the times, strengthening students' character, and improving the quality of education services in order to be in line with national and international standards.

This year there are more than 16,100 schools that have been revitalized with a budget of Rp. 16.9 trillion. Next year we are trying to keep this achievement maintained even though the budget is slightly reduced," he said.

The second program relates to improving the quality of teachers through various professional training and education schemes.

The government, he said, has prepared 808 thousand Teacher Professional Education quotas (PPG) and expanded the Lampau Learning Recognition (RPL) program for teachers who have not completed their undergraduate studies.

"We want to make sure that no teacher's career has stopped just because he has not met the academic requirements. In fact, the teaching experience is now recognized up to 70 percent in the RPL scheme," he said.

The Ministry of Education and Culture also encourages deep learning programs to strengthen the capacity of pedagogical students and their character. This program can involve PTMA as a teacher training provider and module developer.

He said starting in 2027, English will be a mandatory subject from grade 3 elementary school. Therefore, English teacher training is the main focus.

However, he wants the term training to be changed to education so that it can be certified and has an impact on teacher professionalism.

The Minister of Education and Culture emphasized that his ministry encourages every policy to be born from a strong academic study. "We want educational policies not only to be administrative, but to become social engineering that forms the nation's character. Therefore, research and input from Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah campuses will be very meaningful," he said.

Abdul Mu'ti emphasized that every Kemendikdasmen policy was not made haphazardly, but had a philosophical basis and an in-depth study.

In addition, the importance of strategic partnerships between ministries and PTMA must be maintained to realize an equitable, inclusive, and future-oriented education.

With the spirit of cultural partnership, he invites all parties to ensure education that not only educates the brain, but also grows character.

The National Working Meeting of the 2025 PTMA Chancellor Forum which was held on October 16-19 at the UMM campus is a forum for reflection and consolidation of national education policies, as well as a synergy forum between the government and the Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah campus network to realize superior education and have an impact on the nation.