Kemendes PDT Removes Village Head Appeal Study Program Abroad

The Minister of Villages and PDT Yandri Susanto gave a statement to reporters at the Kemendes PDT office, Jakarta, Tuesday (11/2/2025). ANTARA/Tri Meilani Ameliya.

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes PDT) has eliminated the village head appeal study program (kades) abroad as a form of follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's budget efficiency policy.

"Yes, it is not allowed (the village head program abroad). So, we are all now following the direction of the President and we fully support it," said Village Minister and PDT Yandri Susanto as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 11.

Yandri emphasized that the work of the Ministry of Villages and PDT is around the village so they should not go abroad, but to villages.

Yandri also said that from the start he led the Ministry of Villages and PDT on village trips only to villages. In fact, Yandri said he did not use facilities to stay at hotels, but stayed at village residents' homes.

That way, he can become closer to the villagers he visits in every working visit and experience life in the village directly related to the various problems that exist there.

"Alhamdulillah, when visiting, staying at people's homes. Staying in the villages. So, God willing, we will support a thousand percent, we are not allowed to go abroad," he said.

It is known that in September 2024, the fourth village head comparative study program was organized by the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Indonesia and was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture International Exchange Service Center and China's Rural Affairs. In the program, a number of village heads carried out visits and learning activities in villages in the Pujiang area, Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

At that time, Deputy Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) for the 2023-2024 term Paiman Raharjo said that as many as 13 village heads from various regions in Indonesia to China were to gain knowledge and absorb experience.

The move was carried out with the aim of improving the quality of village head Human Resources (HR) which is useful for sustainable rural development.

"We want to shape the image of the village head to dare to leave, see a real example of infrastructure, agriculture, and other sectors in China, which can later be applied in their village," he said.