As stated by the professor, Garuda is a top-tier bird with the ability to soar high and traverse great distances across the skies.
Reflecting the collective ambition of the nation, the Garuda schools–that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)–were finally introduced to the public simultaneously from 16 points on Wednesday (October 8, 2025).
The government has set a target to have 100 Garuda Schools operating across Indonesia by 2029, comprising 80 schools transformed from conventional schools and 20 newly established schools, which will be built in regions that lack quality educational facilities with a minimum budget of Rp200 billion (around US$12 million) per school.
For the short term, namely 2026, the target that has been set is to have four newly constructed Garuda Schools and 30 transformed Garuda Schools operating in the country.
Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto noted that Garuda Schools are established to create generations of "fighters" who can compete globally. To this end, the students are prepared to get into the world's top universities.
According to him, to become 'fighters', the Garuda School students must possess three things: a strong passion, diligence, and perseverance to achieve their goals.
Thus, the students are not only assisted to master knowledge, but also to be mentally strong and have a big dream for the nation's future, which will be realized with their persistence.
With the fighter mentality, the students are encouraged to never give up and regard failures as a process to bolster their mental toughness to achieve their goals.
While Generation Z is often dubbed the "strawberry generation"–one that tends to be fragile–this label will not apply to students at Garuda Schools.
The schools not only teach the youth to be able to compete with other countries, but, more fundamentally, to fight a battle within themselves so as not to become fragile, like strawberries, that look captivating on the outside yet are fragile and spoil easily.
Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid assessed that Garuda Schools are places to maximize students' potential with a more specific curriculum.
She highlighted that the Human Capital Index data shows that average Indonesian students have only used around 54 percent of their full potential. This presents both a challenge and a big opportunity to improve the quality of education in the country.
In this regard, Garuda Schools are said to adopt transformative education that focuses on STEM to prepare a generation that is ready to address various forms of challenges, including those presented by digital transformation.
The boarding-school-based schools that are equipped with modern facilities are designed to accelerate Indonesia's human resources quality improvement. The hope is that the students will later become a driving force in collective efforts to end the cycle of poverty and prepare excellent generations for the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision.
As one of President Prabowo's quick-win programs, Garuda Schools also complements other programs that have been implemented by the Indonesian government to realize equitable quality education for all, such as the tuition-free school program, Sekolah Rakyat, and scholarships targeting children from low-income families.
Quality teachers
To educate future superior generations, Garuda Schools must be led by teachers who meet a standard of absolute excellence, ensuring they are both mentally and intellectually strong.
These teachers must not only be capable in terms of knowledge, but also be able to assist students with sincerity and dedication. Just like the students, they must also carry a "fighter mentality" and transfer their experience to the pupils.
Since Garuda Schools are expected to develop mentally strong graduates, the presence of counseling teachers at the schools is essential.
They must also meet the necessary qualifications that consider many aspects, especially regarding their commitment to carry out their tasks in guiding the students fully.
If necessary, Garuda Schools should be equipped with psychologists who are competent in handling issues related to students, and potentially even hypnotherapists with high educational backgrounds as additional support.
Furthermore, all teachers of Garuda Schools must also be trained in the field of counseling so that they can optimally support students in boosting their learning progress and strengthening themselves mentally.
One thing that must not be overlooked is ensuring the whole school community, starting from the principals to the cleaning staff, meets certain quality standards. That way, all parties, in accordance with their duties, can foster a supportive environment to prepare excellent generations.
As transformative education institutions that nurture creativity and innovation, Garuda Schools must set the standard as Indonesia's ideal school model, raising the bar for quality across all schools in the country.
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Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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