She said NTT is the most suitable location due to its historical and socio-cultural ties with Portuguese-speaking countries and its proximity to Timor-Leste, where Portuguese is an official language.
“This contextual approach will make the learning process more relevant, effective, and beneficial for students and local communities,” Sjaifudian said on Monday.
She added that Commission X supports all government initiatives to enhance students’ language skills but emphasized the need for a clear rationale tied to strategic interests, diplomatic relations, and future relevance for students.
Sjaifudian also urged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to study potential cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries such as Portugal, Brazil, and Timor-Leste as part of developing an adaptive foreign language model suited to regional needs.
She cautioned the government to consider the impact of adding new subjects to an already packed school curriculum.
“In principle, we support educational policies that strengthen the global competitiveness of Indonesian students, as long as they are implemented with careful planning and continue to prioritize the Indonesian language and regional languages as national identity,” she said.
Earlier, during a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Jakarta on Thursday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that Portuguese will be introduced as one of the priority languages in Indonesian schools.
“As proof that we view Brazil as highly important, I have planned that Portuguese will be one of the priority languages taught in schools,” Prabowo said.
Related news: Prabowo to introduce Portuguese language in Indonesian schools
Translator: Bagus Ahmad, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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