TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto planned to reform the mathematics curriculum, particularly at the elementary school level in a bid to enhance students' scientific and technological knowledge.

“The President emphasized the importance of quality mathematics education and the need for improved teaching methods, including the implications for teacher training,” said Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Following a limited meeting with the President, Mu'ti revealed that Prabowo places great attention on the development of mathematics education as a means to elevate the quality of science and technology, particularly students in grades 1-4 of elementary school.

In addition to curriculum reform, Prabowo will also implement training programs for mathematics teachers.

The President, according to Mu'ti, has proposed introducing mathematics education as early as the kindergarten level (TK).

“There was a suggestion to integrate mathematics into the elementary school curriculum, particularly for grades 1-4, and perhaps even introduce it at the TK level,” Mu'ti explained.

When questioned about the continuation of the Merdeka Belajar (the freedom to learn) curriculum initiated by the previous Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim, Mu'ti claimed that there have been no formal discussions with the President on this matter.

As previously reported, Mu'ti indicated that his leadership would reevaluate the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum.

Indonesia’s PISA Scores Issues

The Association of Education and Teachers (P2G) has highlighted several pressing issues in education that require government attention, including the decline in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores.

“Indonesia's PISA score for reading skills decreased from 371 in 2018 to 359 in 2022,” said P2G National Coordinator Satriawan Salim in a press release issued in Jakarta on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Similarly, the mathematics and science scores experienced declines during the same period, dropping from 379 to 366 and from 379 to 366, respectively. “The declining PISA scores further indicate Indonesia's poor educational condition,” Salim said.

The P2G also urged the Prabowo-Gibran administration to prioritize the recruitment of honorary teachers as state apparatus (ASN) and remind them of their pledges to increase teachers' salaries.

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