Garuda Schools are designed as senior high schools that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with a curriculum that prepares students to get into the world's top universities.
In a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, Yuliarto explained that the 100 Garuda Schools comprise 80 schools transformed from conventional schools and 20 newly established schools.
According to him, the construction of 20 new Garuda Schools targets regions that lack quality educational facilities.
As for Garuda Schools that are transformed from existing conventional schools, he stated that the ministry only provides support for the students to prepare to get into top universities and does not add new facilities to the schools.
"We only need to prepare the students with the knowledge necessary to compete for spots at the world's top universities," he said.
The minister affirmed that for constructing new Garuda Schools, the government has budgeted a minimum of Rp200 billion (around US$12 million) per school.
For 2026, he stated that the target that has been set is to have four newly constructed Garuda Schools and 30 transformed Garuda Schools operating in the country.
On Wednesday, the Garuda School program was officially launched, with 12 existing schools transformed into Garuda Schools announced as its pioneers, including Taruna Nusantara Senior High School in Magelang, Central Java.
In addition, four new Garuda Schools will be established in East Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands; South Timor Tengah, East Nusa Tenggara; Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi; and Bulungan, North Kalimantan.
These four schools are targeted to begin operations in the 2026-2027 academic year.
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Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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