The Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has called for schools in the new capital city, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, to adopt the Independent Curriculum. This initiative is part of the broader implementation of the curriculum across 300 thousand educational units in Indonesia. Makarim emphasized the benefits of this curriculum during a statement released on Sunday, noting its role in alleviating the heavy burden of extensive teaching material on schools.

According to Antara News Agency, the move towards the Independent Curriculum is particularly significant for the Nusantara Intercultural School (NIS) and Sepaku 020 State Elementary School, both undergoing development and revitalization in the new capital. These institutions are central to providing quality education in the region, catering to the needs of civil servants (ASN) and the local community planning to relocate to IKN.

A key issue addressed is the current location of Sepaku 020 State Elementary School, which is prone to flooding, disrupting educational activities. The government and stakeholders are collaborating to relocate the school to a safer area, ensuring a stable and conducive learning environment.

Makarim expressed hope that these schools would soon implement the Independent Curriculum to bolster human resource quality. He also encouraged teachers and educational staff to engage with the Independent Learning Platform (Platform Merdeka Belajar/PMM), a resource already utilized by over 2.8 million teachers in Indonesia for learning and collaboration.

The minister also highlighted the importance of using national assessment results to aid school principals in managing educational units more effectively.

Responding to the revitalization project, Pujianto, the principal of Sepaku 020 State Elementary School, expressed positivity, anticipating improved student comfort and learning conditions. Fanaya Ashalina, a student at the school, shared her excitement about the prospect of a new school building, hoping for a flood-free environment conducive to comfortable learning.

This initiative reflects Indonesia’s commitment to enhancing educational standards and adapting to modern teaching methods, particularly in the burgeoning new capital city, Nusantara.