Indonesia Reviews 2027 Education Budget with Emphasis on Teacher Quality

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Discussions on the education budget in the draft 2027 state budget (RAPBN 2027) are underway as the Indonesian government and lawmakers begin reviewing priority allocations for next year.

Against this backdrop, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, or Ibas, urged that the education budget move beyond infrastructure spending and place stronger emphasis on improving teacher quality and competence, which he described as the main drivers of learning.

He said education is a long‑term investment in Indonesia’s future, and the success of the education budget should be measured by its impact on students, teachers, schools, and equitable access to learning opportunities.

“A budget’s success is not measured by how much is spent, but by how many children’s futures are transformed,” Ibas said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He stressed that every rupiah allocated through the state budget must deliver clear benefits for the public. In the education sector, he said, effectiveness cannot be assessed solely by absorption rates but must be reflected in improvements in teaching and learning.

“The question is simple: are children learning better? Are teachers more capable? Are schools safer? And do children from low‑income families have equal opportunities?” he said.

Ibas welcomed the government’s decision to prioritize education spending, including through school revitalization programs. However, he cautioned that revitalization should not be interpreted as merely physical construction or repairs.

A quality school, he said, requires competent teachers and administrators, a relevant curriculum, stronger literacy and numeracy skills, technological integration, and a safe learning environment.

He also underscored the importance of improving teacher welfare alongside competency development, noting that teachers must be treated as both an investment and the central force behind better learning outcomes.

Ibas urged that school revitalization be data-driven so government interventions can be directed to regions and institutions most in need. He added that the education system must prepare young Indonesians for advances in artificial intelligence by strengthening critical thinking, creativity, and ethics. Not only technological skills.

“We do not want Indonesia’s youth to be mere consumers of technology. We want them to be creators of technology. Not just job seekers, but job creators,” he said.

He emphasized that the State Budget (APBN) should be viewed as an instrument to improve people’s quality of life.

Therefore, deliberations on the 2027 draft state budget, particularly the education component, must ensure that every policy and allocation produces measurable improvements in teacher quality and learning outcomes.

“The State Budget is not just numbers. It is a tool to protect the people, strengthen the nation, and deliver a better life,” he said. ***