The Merdeka Belajar program can bolster the enhancement of national human resources quality, and improve the competitiveness of domestic industries and products
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Merdeka Belajar Program is an endeavor to free teachers and students' thinking and expression, second deputy chief expert at the Presidential Office (KSP), Agung Hardjono, has said.

"The Merdeka Belajar (Freedom in Learning) program is an effort to liberate teachers and students in using their minds and expressing themselves. It is inspired by the spirit of the father of national education, Ki Hajar Dewantara," Hardjono said in a KSP press release received here on Wednesday.

In his state address at MPR's annual session here on Monday (August 16, 2021), President Joko Widodo had conveyed that the Merdeka Belajar program is expected to be one of the government's measures to synergize education and industry.

This program is also a real step in accelerating the development of entrepreneurship, Widodo pointed out.

“The Merdeka Belajar program can bolster the enhancement of national human resources quality, and improve the competitiveness of domestic industries and products,” he said.

The purpose of Merdeka Belajar is that schools, students, and teachers have the freedom to innovate, learn independently, and creatively to produce human resources that possess state-of-the-art skills, Hardjono stated.

He said he expected schools and teachers to commit to innovating in the learning process, as well as reflecting on its progress and influence on learners' potential growth.

He affirmed that the Merdeka Belajar program is not limited to paper-based learning. Currently, the government, through the Education Ministry, is offering Kampus Merdeka, which is a comprehensive career preparation program to build the best generation of Indonesia.

Kampus Merdeka is part of Merdeka Belajar's strategy to open opportunities for college students to hone their skills based on their talent and interest by directly jumping into the world of work to lay a foundation for their future careers.

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Translator: Rangga J, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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