Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id — President Prabowo Subianto’s announcement that French will become a compulsory subject in Indonesian schools has sparked criticism from education experts and lawmakers, who question the policy’s timing and practicality.
The plan was revealed by Prabowo on Thursday (28/5/2026) while hosting French President Emmanuel Macron. In his remarks, Prabowo said he had instructed schools across the country to begin teaching French as part of preparing Indonesia for future global developments.
However, the proposal quickly drew skepticism, especially since a similar idea to make Portuguese mandatory has yet to materialize. Critics point out that neither plan has produced concrete regulations, curriculum changes, or implementation strategies.
Deputy Chairman of DPR Commission X, Lalu Hadrian Irfani, said his commission will seek an official explanation from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. While acknowledging the importance of strengthening foreign language skills, he stressed that national education policy cannot be driven solely by diplomatic moments.
“The government must first ensure the urgency, benefits, and readiness for implementation. Even the previous Portuguese language plan still lacks a clear roadmap,” Lalu said.
Education observer Ina Liem warned the government against turning education policy into symbolic gestures tied to state visits.
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“We shouldn’t have a situation where every presidential overseas trip leads to a new announcement about making a certain foreign language widely taught, only for it to never be followed through,” Ina told Kompas.com on Friday.
She noted that Indonesia’s education system is still struggling with more fundamental problems, including low basic literacy rates and severe teacher shortages in many regions. In her view, adding new burdens like compulsory French may not be realistic at this stage.
“Even English, as the global lingua franca, is still not properly mastered in many schools. Making French a compulsory national subject requires thorough study — from teacher availability and curriculum readiness to its actual impact on students,” she said.
Ina added that the public tends to view every presidential statement as official state policy. Therefore, the government needs to be more cautious to avoid the perception that education direction is shifting with every diplomatic engagement. (aan/mzm)
