RRI.CO.ID, Depok - Quality education for all is not only determined by facilities and academic achievement, but also by the ability to shape students’ character, integrity, and national awareness. That message was reaffirmed during the inauguration of Bakti Mulya 400 School in Depok, West Java, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the government and private schools in strengthening Indonesia’s education ecosystem.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, expressed appreciation for private education providers, saying they play an important role in expanding access to quality education. He noted that Indonesia’s educational challenges remain diverse and require support from all stakeholders.

“The reality of education in Indonesia is that there are large and prestigious schools with many students, but there are also schools with only one applicant,” Mu’ti said in Depok on Sunday, May 24, 2026. He explained that the condition demonstrates the importance of building an inclusive education system that continues to prioritize quality learning for all students.

Mu’ti also emphasized that private schools are an integral part of Indonesia’s national education system. According to him, private institutions and the government must continue working together to improve educational access and quality.

“I often say that private schools are partners of the government,” he said. He added that the spirit of collaboration aligns with Indonesia’s National Education System Law, which guarantees every citizen the right to quality education.

The minister stressed that all schools share the same responsibility to provide quality education and build students’ character. He said both elite and modest schools should maintain high educational standards and strong learning quality.

Mu’ti also praised the educational approach developed by Bakti Mulya 400, which combines academic excellence with character and national identity development. He said the school provides an important model for preparing future generations of Indonesians.

Meanwhile, Bakti Mulya 400 Chief Executive Officer Sutrisno Muslimin stated that the school aims to develop students who are academically strong while also grounded in character and national values. He said the institution focuses on producing generations who are religious, nationalistic, and internationally minded.

Sutrisno explained that religious values at the school are reflected through integrity, discipline, honesty, and empathy in students’ daily lives. He added that international-mindedness should not mean abandoning national identity, but instead preparing students to become global citizens while remaining rooted in Indonesian values.