"In the midst of globalization, the more languages we master, the better it will be for us, including languages such as Portuguese, Arabic, Mandarin, French, Dutch, and German," the minister said when met after the 97th Youth Pledge Day Ceremony, here on Tuesday.
The minister welcomed President Prabowo Subianto's plan to start a Portuguese language teaching program in Indonesian schools.
"With advances in information and communication technology, it will be easier for us to learn and study these languages," he added.
In a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (10/23), Indonesian President Prabowo stated that Portuguese will begin to be taught in Indonesian schools.
President Prabowo explained that this step was aimed at strengthening relations between the Indonesian and Brazilian people.
"To demonstrate that we view Brazil as very important, I have formulated that Portuguese will be one of the priority languages (taught in schools, ed.)," President Prabowo told President Lula during a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace.
Prabowo stated that he had ordered two of his ministers, namely the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, and the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to prepare a curriculum and introduce Portuguese language subjects and courses in schools and universities in Indonesia.
On a separate occasion, while delivering a joint press statement, President Prabowo reiterated that Portuguese is one of the priority foreign languages taught in Indonesian schools.
"I have decided that Portuguese will be a priority language in our education, alongside English, Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, French, German, and Russian. Portuguese is our priority language," said President Prabowo.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Katriana
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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