Gogot Suharwoto, the ministry’s director general for ECE, Primary and Secondary Education, said a child’s character and competence begin forming in the earliest years of life.
“The main pillar for developing excellent Indonesian human capital is quality early childhood education. The expansion of ECE services has made significant progress compared to previous years,” he said here Saturday.
He cited an increase in the participation rate for children aged 5 to 6, which has reached 74.15 percent. In addition, 74.67 percent of ECE institutions have implemented holistic and integrative services in 2024, based on national education and statistics data.
“This growth reflects strong commitment and broad participation in advancing quality ECE,” he said.
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Despite these gains, Suharwoto noted that 2.8 million Indonesian children in the 5–6 age group still lack access to preschool. Challenges include limited infrastructure, uneven teacher quality, difficult geographic conditions and governance issues.
He said the ministry is prioritizing an inclusive, holistic strategy that involves local governments, health services, religious institutions, traditional communities and civil society groups. The approach aims to expand access and ensure equity across regions.
A key component of the strategy is the role of Bunda PAUD, or ECE ambassadors, who mobilize local support and ensure that families understand the importance of early education.
“They play a strategic role in making sure every child has access to quality ECE services,” he said.
The government is also reviewing plans to extend compulsory schooling from 12 to 13 years, adding one year of early childhood education as part of national development goals.
According to ministry data, Indonesia has at least 215,730 PAUD units as of September 2025, reflecting steady expansion and rising demand for early learning services.
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Translator: Hana Dewi, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
