President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritize the nation’s education during his State Budget 2026 Financial Note address. In his speech at the House of Representatives’ plenary session, Prabowo announced a record allocation of Rp 757.8 trillion for education in 2026, marking the largest budget in Indonesia’s history. He emphasized the pivotal role of education in producing globally competitive human resources and eradicating poverty, stating that education is a powerful tool for these goals. Prabowo highlighted the need for effective utilization of education funds, with a focus on improving teacher welfare and quality, enhancing vocational training, and aligning curricula with labor market demands. The breakdown of the budget includes funding for various education programs such as Program Indonesia Pintar and Kartu Indonesia Pintar scholarships, as well as investments in school and campus facilities. Particularly, efforts will be made to strengthen People’s Schools and Garuda Excellence Schools to provide quality education for underprivileged children. Prabowo also mentioned plans to expand scholarship opportunities through the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to nurture a generation of intelligent and competitive individuals. The President concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of advancing Indonesia’s capabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
