Semarang, Central Java, April 6, 2026 - Early Childhood Education (PAUD) and Kindergarten (TK) are essential foundations in the educational process and the initial formation of a child's character. Therefore, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has prioritized the 13-Year Compulsory Education (Wajar) program and is promoting the One Village One Kindergarten policy to achieve Quality Education for All.
"One of our priority programs is the 13-Year Compulsory Education Program, which starts from basic education at the PAUD/TK level. Of course, this program is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita and is included in the Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJM). Therefore, we, together with the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes PDT), are committed to the One Village One Kindergarten program," said the Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, when inaugurating the new building of Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal (ABA) 31 Kindergarten in Semarang, Central Java, Saturday (4/4).
At the inauguration, Minister Abdul Mu'ti highlighted the importance of early childhood education (PAUD) as a foundation for instilling self-confidence and respect in children. He further emphasized that learning in kindergarten must prioritize play to develop motor skills, foster a sense of joy in learning, and develop the potential of young children.
"Elementary education practices must also emphasize the importance of all professions. Kindergarten education shouldn't just focus on becoming doctors or soldiers; it should also encourage children to become farmers or fishermen. As in Semarang, children must be able to recognize the natural and social environments, as well as the characteristics of the places they live," explained Minister Mu'ti.
Regarding the implementation of the 13-Year Compulsory Education program, Minister Mu'ti outlined four efforts by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to support and ensure its success. "In addition to revitalizing educational units and digitizing learning, we are also providing competency training and scholarships to kindergarten teachers who do not yet have a bachelor's degree. Starting in 2026, we will also provide the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) worth Rp 450,000 per year to more than 880,000 kindergarten students," she said.
After signing the school's inauguration inscription, Minister Abdul Mu'ti also reviewed the use of Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) or Digital Interactive Board (PID) in the ABA 31 Kindergarten classroom. To the kindergarten teachers and students, Minister Mu'ti gave a message about the importance of an attitude of appreciation and respect through queuing behavior.
"Besides playing and learning, PID is also beneficial for children, helping them master various Indonesian vocabulary. This way, they can express appreciation to their peers, teachers, and parents with words like "thank you," "great," or "amazing." Study hard so you can become a great generation of Indonesians," said Minister Mu'ti.
Furthermore, the principal of ABA 31 Kindergarten, Sutarmi, welcomed the government's 13-Year Compulsory Education program and the One Village One Kindergarten program. She stated that kindergarten education is the first step in shaping students' character, attitudes, and personalities.
"We are very honored that our school was inaugurated by Minister Abdul Mu'ti. As kindergarten educators, we continue to strive to provide excellent educational services through play and learning practices. Every day we begin learning activities with a Happy Morning and encourage students to practice the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children," added Sutarmi.
Sutarmi hopes that the 13-Year Compulsory Education program can be utilized and increase parental awareness of the importance of the learning process in PAUD/TK. "Hopefully, this program will spark parents' desire to send their children to PAUD/TK. We strongly support pre-school learning at the kindergarten level to encourage early childhood learning and maximize the growth and development process according to their age," Sutarmi concluded.*** (Writer and Photographer: Destian / Editor: Denty A., Seno H.)
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