Commission X Of The House Of Representatives Asks The Urgency Of Portuguese Language Learning, Mendikdasmen Admits They Are Still Studying

JAKARTA - Member of Commission X DPR RI, Furtasan Ali Yusuf questioned the urgency of Portuguese language learning in the education curriculum in Indonesia to the Indonesian Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti. The reason is, according to Furtasan, there are still many regional languages in Indonesia that should be of concern to the government.

The plan to add foreign language learning was previously conveyed by President Prabowo Subianto.

"Some time ago I heard the news that Portuguese will be applied in our curriculum, I want a more detailed explanation of what kind of interests will be in the future, right? We must pay attention to all of our regional languages later," said Furtasan in a working meeting with the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Wednesday, November 26.

He also asked for an explanation from the Minister of Education and Culture, Abdul Mu'ti, regarding when the discourse would be realized. "So the point is that the president's time is the time the other day to the Minister, there are instructions like that, just get a more detailed explanation of how it will be at what time?" asked the NasDem legislator.

Responding to Furtasan, Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu'ti explained that the application of Portuguese was still considering the readiness of teachers and infrastructure in schools. He said that currently the government is conducting an internal study regarding strengthening foreign language learning in schools.

The study, said Abdul Mu'ti, not only includes the Portuguese language teaching plan but also various other foreign languages that have been taught in schools.

"So we have conducted an internal study of foreign language learning, not only Portuguese. Because there are a lot of foreign languages," said Mu'ti.

Mu'ti said that currently English is the only foreign language that must be taught in schools starting in 2027. She also said that the government plans to reduce the initial level of English learning to grade 3 of elementary school.

"Right now, foreign languages are mandatory English. And starting in 2027, we will start teaching 3rd grade English elementary school. In 2026, we will train English teachers," he said.