"From the report released by UNESCO, there are challenges globally to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which is the education goal. It aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” he noted when contacted from Jakarta on Monday.
In particular, in early childhood education and basic education, Indonesia and many countries will not face problems, he said.
However, African countries are not expected to reach the target, Ismunandar noted.
"Therefore, Africa has become a UNESCO priority, and Indonesia has expressed readiness to share its experiences through the South-South and Tri Angular Cooperation," he informed.
According to Ismunandar, the point is ensuring the quality of education. This is also a domestic challenge, he noted. The Merdeka Belajar policy will improve the quality of education in Indonesia, although the nation is still facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
Earlier, UNESCO had reported that Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) would prove difficult to achieve. It reminded world leaders that millions of children are missing out on schooling and quality learning.
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, earlier 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 on Wednesday.
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In his state address at MPR's annual session here on August 16, 2021, President Joko Widodo had said that the Merdeka Belajar program is one of the government's measures to synergize education and industry.
This program is also a real step for 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 with state-of-the-art skills, Hardjono said.
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Translator: Indriani, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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