Entering SD Is Not Mandatory For PAUD-TK, Kemendikdasmen Emphasizes The Main Mandatory Study For 13 Years

Illustration of elementary school teachers (SD). (Between)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) emphasized that currently there is no rule that requires children to take part in one school year in early childhood education units or kindergartens, before entering elementary school (SD).

Direktur PAUD Kemendikdasmen, Nia Nurhasanah mengatakan bahwa satu tahun prakolah itu memang bagian kebijakan wajib belajar 13 tahun yang sudah masuk dalam rencana pembangunan nasional, namun implementasinya masih dalam tahap rencana.

"Now there is no obligation of one year before entering elementary school. What is there is an encouragement from the government for children to take part in PAUD for at least one year," he said in a dialogue forum with reporters in Jakarta, Friday, which was confiscated by Antara.

He explained that the technical regulations for early childhood education currently still need adjustments, including the rules for entering elementary school and being related to ownership of PAUD diplomas.

The Ministry of Education and Culture confirmed that they were preparing a roadmap, strategy and consequences for the implementation of compulsory learning 13 years before further discussion with members of Commission X DPR RI and ratified.

"The narrative used by the government today is that it is only fulfilled the obligation to study for 13 years, while preparing a long-term policy design. So, we are only going there (it is mandatory for one year of preschool)," he said.

Apart from that, Nia assured that the main goal of this policy is to ensure that Indonesian children are more prepared cognitively, emotionally, and socially before entering elementary school.

This is also assessed as a solution to limited access to education for children in villages and raises awareness of some parents about the importance of early childhood education.

"Therefore, we continue to invite local governments, educational institutions, and the public to expand PAUD services while at the same time increasing awareness of parents. Must study for 13 years is a common goal that we must achieve gradually," said Nia.