Chief of Party (COP) of the Program of KREASI, Alifah Lestari, attended the Sarasehan Mitra: Partisipasi Semesta untuk Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini (PAUD/early childhood education) held in Jakarta on Tuesday (2/9/2025). The event was organized by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) as a forum for engagement with education partner organizations, including Save the Children Indonesia as the grant agent of the Program of KREASI.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Abdul Mu’ti, in his remarks emphasized the importance of universal participation in improving the quality and equitable access to PAUD.
According to Minister Mu’ti, PAUD is the main foundation of quality education.
“Early childhood education is like planting a tree. If the roots are strong, the trunk and leaves will grow sturdy. This foundation determines the resilience of our education in the future,” he said.
He added that PAUD is not only about literacy and numeracy but also about instilling healthy habits, balanced nutrition, and social civility.
“We must ensure children grow up with good nutrition, healthy lifestyles, and social skills from an early age. That way, they will become a generation able to debate without belittling, to disagree while still respecting each other,” said Minister Mu’ti.
Furthermore, Minister Mu’ti underlined the need for cross-sector synergy in improving PAUD quality and access.
“We cannot work alone. Support from partners in business, industry, civil society organizations, universities, communities, and families is essential to ensure every Indonesian child has access to quality PAUD services,” he stressed.
Aligned with Presidential Regulation No. 12 of 2025 on the National Medium-Term Development Plan, Kemendikdasmen has set several priority programs:
- 13-year compulsory education and equitable access to education,
- Improving teacher qualifications, competencies, and welfare,
- Strengthening character through the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children and Pagi Ceria programs,
- Strengthening literacy, numeracy, science, and technology, and
- Developing learning in coding and artificial intelligence.
At the same event, the Chair of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Hetifah Sjaifudian, expressed full support for strengthening PAUD services.
“Universal participation is a necessity. The DPR RI must also ensure that the legislative process involves genuine public participation, including in the revision of the National Education System Law. We want to ensure PAUD becomes part of compulsory education and is equally available, even in the 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged) regions,” she said.
Meanwhile, the KREASI COP emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to improve the quality of education across Indonesia.
“Education is a very large endeavor; it requires collaboration from many parties. With the KREASI Program, we are committed to making a joint effort to improve education quality,” said Alifah.
The sarasehan was attended by partners from business, industry, NGOs, international organizations, partner organizations, universities, and communities from across the country.
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This news was adapted from the press release of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.