On 9 April 2021, the
People's Representative Council approved the proposal, along with the creation of the new
Ministry of Investment.[2] On 13 April 2021, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, a spokesperson for and specialist of the
Presidential Staff Office, announced that a second reshuffle of the
Onward Indonesia Cabinet was to take place on second week of April 2021.[3] The reshuffle was finally announced on 28 April 2021. It was the first of its kind, because not only were the ministers reshuffled, but cabinet institutions were also disbanded mid-term. In this reshuffle,
Nadiem Makarim was appointed as the first Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, according to the Presidential Decision No. 72/P/2021.[4][5] On the same day, the President formally recognized the ministry as one of the thirty-four Indonesian government ministries.[6]
On 30 July 2021, President Joko Widodo issued the permanent constituting document of the ministry, Presidential Decree No. 62/2021.[7] The decree itself backdated to 15 July 2021.[8]
Reception
Hasto Kristiyanto, the General Secretary of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, praised the move. He expressed his hope that, with the merger, the now independent
BRIN would play an important role in accelerating the growth of research in Indonesia.[9] The Deputy Chief of Commission X in the
People's Representative Council, Hetifah Syaifudian of
Golkar, also praised the move. She commented that the merger might help the research synergy between academia and research agencies.[10]
Criticism
The deputy chief of the
Prosperous Justice Party faction in the People's Representative Council Mulyanto from the opposition criticized the decision, saying that the change was not effective. He claimed that the government had not learned from the previous merger of the
Ministry of Research and Technology and the General Directorate of Higher Education, which formed the
Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education. While the merger was successful, Mulyanto claimed that the ministry was not effective when combined to manage research and technology development and educational affairs. He also cited that in previous cabinet, the administrative migration and adaptation processes in a new ministry required at least three years. Not only that, the presence of the non-ministerial
National Research and Innovation Agency to coordinate and facilitate state research and development would result in an overlap with some of the tasks of the ministry.[11]
The governing coalition also voiced criticisms. While the Chief of Commission X in the People's Representative Council, Syaiful Huda of the
National Awakening Party, praised the move, he criticized the timing of the formation of the new ministry, happening in the middle of the second term of the ruling government, when normally such a major change would have been done earlier. Citing the issue of lengthy administrative migration and adaptation processes, Huda urged that the transitional process must be done as soon as possible, in a maximum time of one year after the formation of the new ministry, stressing the importance of research during the
COVID-19 pandemic. He also commented that such a merger will put heavy load to the new ministry because both of preceding ministries had very different focuses.[12][10]
In the aftermath of the release of the Presidential Decree No. 62/2021, the formation of the General Directorate of Higher Education, Research, and Technology was also criticized by officials of the ministry. An official from the Quality Control Department, Johannes Gunawan, criticized the government for not learning from failures of the past, citing past mismanagement of expert personnel.[13]
2022 Curriculum Reform
In 2022, the ministry initiated curriculum policy options as part of efforts to mitigate learning loss and as a form of learning recovery. The ministry provides three options for educational units to implement a curriculum based on the National Education Standards that is in accordance with the learning needs and context of each educational unit. The three options are as follows:[14]
using the 2013 Curriculum completely
using the Emergency Curriculum
using the Independent Curriculum
The ministry launched the Independent Curriculum (
Indonesian: Kurikulum Merdeka) as part of learning activities' recovery process. The curriculum was designed to be more flexible, focus on essential material, and develop students' character and competence. The main characteristics of this curriculum that support learning recovery are:[15]
Project-based learning for soft skills and character development according to the profile of Pancasila students
Focus on essential material so that there is sufficient time for in-depth study of basic competencies such as literacy and numeracy.
Flexibility for teachers to carry out differentiated learning according to the abilities of students and make adjustments to local contexts and content.
2022 Shadow Organization Disclosure
Unlike other ministries in Indonesia, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology possessed a shadow organization outside its structure, which is quite large in size and plays a significant role in ministry policies and outputs. The shadow organization's presence was disclosed in September 2022. The organization is described as "unusual and abnormal" with around 400 members, comparable in size to a General Directorate of a ministry, from product managers, data scientists, and software engineers. The shadow organization performed some extent of research and development activities on behalf of the Ministry. The presence of the organization surprised many Indonesians, as for the first time in Indonesian politics a shadow organization was used by a ministry. For the disclosure, Nadiem confirmed the existence of the shadow organization and the shadow organization actually a legal tenderized collaboration between the ministry with GovTech Edu, a state-owned company subsidiary of
Telkom.[16][17][18][19] Such move criticized by
People's Representative Council,[16] and mass organizations advocating teachers' welfare and education.[20] Critics criticized that such move is "wasteful" and "disrespectful" towards thousands original human resources employed by the ministry.[16][20]
Organizational structure
Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology
The minister of education, culture, research, and technology, appointed by the
president at his own discretion, is by Presidential Decree No. 62 of 2021. The head of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, under and responsible to the president. The decree also created the Office of Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, though it is currently vacant.[21][22]
Initially, the organizational structure of the ministry was a direct merger of the structures of the two preceding cabinet ministries.[23] However, the structure was deemed too large and ineffective.
On 23 August 2021, the structure of the Ministry was expanded by Ministerial Decree No. 28/2021 into:[24]
Office of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology
Office of the Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology
Special Advisor on Institutional and Public Relationship
Special Advisor on Innovation
Special Advisor on Regulation
Special Advisor on Talent Management
Special Advisor on Cultural Heritage
Office of Secretariat General
Bureau of Planning
Bureau of Finance and State Properties Management Affairs
Bureau of Human Resources Affairs
Bureau of Organization and Governance Affairs
Bureau of Law Affairs
Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relation
Bureau of General Affairs and Procurement
Directorate General of Teachers and Education Staff/Manpower
Directorate General of Teachers and Education Staff/Manpower Secretariat
Directorate of Teacher Professional Education
Directorate of Headmasters, School Boards, and Education Staffs
Directorate of Elementary Education Teachers
Directorate of Middle Education and Special Education Teachers
Technical Implementation Units
Bureau for Teachers Development and Empowerment of North Sumatera Province
Bureau for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Java Province
Bureau for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Central Java Province
Bureau for Teachers Development and Empowerment of East Java Province
Bureau for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Yogyakarta Province
Bureau for Teachers Development and Empowerment of South Sulawesi Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Aceh Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Sumatera Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Riau Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Jambi Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Lampung Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Banten Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Bali Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Nusa Tenggara Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of East Nusa Tenggara Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Kalimantan Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of East Kalimantan Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of South Kalimantan Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Central Kalimantan Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of North Sulawesi Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Southeast Sulawesi Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Central Sulawesi Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Maluku Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Papua Province
A-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Papua Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Riau Islands Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Bangka Belitung Islands Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Papua Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of North Kalimantan Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of West Sulawesi Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of Gorontalo Province
B-Class Office for Teachers Development and Empowerment of North Maluku Province
Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Middle Education
Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Middle Education Secretariat
Directorate of Early Childhood Education
Directorate of Elementary Education
Directorate of Junior High Education
Directorate of Senior High Education
Directorate of Public Education and Specialized Education
Technical Implementation Units
Bureau for Education Quality Assurance of West Sumatera
Bureau for Education Quality Assurance of West Java
Bureau for Education Quality Assurance of Central Java
Bureau for Education Quality Assurance of East Java
Bureau for Education Quality Assurance of South Sulawesi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Aceh
Office for Education Quality Assurance of North Sumatera
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Riau
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Riau Islands
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Jambi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Bengkulu
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Bangka Belitung Islands
Office for Education Quality Assurance of South Sumatera
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Lampung
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Banten
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Jakarta
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Yogyakarta
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Bali
Office for Education Quality Assurance of West Nusa Tenggara
Office for Education Quality Assurance of East Nusa Tenggara
Office for Education Quality Assurance of West Kalimantan
Office for Education Quality Assurance of East Kalimantan
Office for Education Quality Assurance of South Kalimantan
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Central Kalimantan
Office for Education Quality Assurance of North Sulawesi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Southeast Sulawesi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Central Sulawesi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of North Kalimantan
Office for Education Quality Assurance of West Sulawesi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of South Sulawesi
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Gorontalo
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Maluku
Office for Education Quality Assurance of North Maluku
Office for Education Quality Assurance of Papua
Office for Education Quality Assurance of West Papua
Directorate General of Vocational Education
Directorate General of Vocational Education Secretariat
Directorate of Vocational High School Education
Directorate of Vocational Courses and Training
Directorate of Academic Affairs for Vocational Higher Education
Directorate of Institutional and Resources Affairs for Vocational Higher Education
Directorate of Relevance and Equalization of Businesses and Industries
Technical Implementation Units
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Arts and Culture
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Construction and Electricity
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Business and Tourism
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Agriculture
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Machinery and Industrial Engineering
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Automotive and Electronics
Bureau of Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development for Marine Sciences, Fishery, Information Technology, and Communication
Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology
Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology Secretariat
Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs
Directorate of Institutional Affairs
Directorate of Resources Affairs
Directorate of Research, Technology, and Community Services
Directorate General of Culture
Directorate of Beliefs in One Almighty God and Cultural Affairs
Directorate of Films, Music, and Media Affairs
Directorate of Cultural Protection
Directorate of Cultural Development and Utilization
Directorate of Development of Cultural Staff and Institutions
Higher Education Service Institute Branch I (North Sumatera Region)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch II (South Sumatera, Lampung, Bengkulu, and Bangka Belitung Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch III (Jakarta Region)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch IV (West Java and Banten Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch V (Yogyakarta Region)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch VI (Central Java Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch VII (East Java Region)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch VIII (Bali and West Nusa Tenggara Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch IX (South Sulawesi, South East Sulawesi, and West Sulawesi Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch X (West Sumatera, Riau, Jambi, and Riau Islands Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch XI (South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch XII (Maluku and North Maluku Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch XIII (Aceh Region)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch XIV (Papua and West Papua Regions)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch XV (East Nusa Tenggara Region)
Higher Education Service Institute Branch XVI (Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, and Gorontalo Regions)
Centers
Center of Data, Technology, and Information
Center for Technology Platform Services
Center of Ministry Employee Education and Training
Center of National Achievements
Center for Indonesian Talent Development
Center of Character Strengthening
Center of Education Funding Service
Center for Higher Education Funding
A smaller version of the
Ministry of Research and Technology, the General Directorate of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, was created within the ministry in pursuance of Presidential Decree No. 62/2021, to govern and regulate science, research, and technology in Indonesia after dismantlement of Ministry of Research and Technology.[8] Despite that, the coordination between the ministry and the
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) was not yet made clear in the constituting document. Minister
Nadiem Makarim asserted that
BRIN is a partner of the ministry in performing researches, and not a subordinate of the ministry.[25] While the presidential decree did not clearly separate the scope of the limitation of the ministry and coordination with BRIN, the Ministerial Decree No. 28/2021 distinguished BRIN as a separate entity and clearly outlined the ministry's power in regulating scientific, research, and technology affairs, confirming Makarim's statement.[24] The ministerial decree also confirmed the relinquishment of its National Archaeology Research Institute to BRIN.[24]
As overseer of science, research, and technology in Indonesia, the Ministry has roles to oversee and preparing regulations and technical policies of science, research, and technology.[24] Despite overseer rule, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology also have research functions, but only limited to academic research. State research and development activities, non-academic governmental strategic research, and policy research are performed by BRIN.[25]
^"Pemulihan Pembelajaran" [Learning Recovery]. Sistem Informasi Kurikulum Nasional (in Indonesian). Pusat Kurikulum dan Pembelajaran, Badan Standar, Kurikulum, dan Asesmen Pendidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
^"Kurikulum Merdeka". Sistem Informasi Kurikulum Nasional. Pusat Kurikulum dan Pembelajaran, Badan Standar, Kurikulum, dan Asesmen Pendidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
^"Peraturan Presiden No. 31/2021 tentang Penataan Tugas dan Fungsi Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi dan Kementerian Investasi/Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal pada Kabinet Indonesia Maju Periode Tahun 2019-2024".
Presidential Decree No. 31 of 2021(PDF) (in Indonesian).
President of Indonesia.
^
abcd"Peraturan Menteri Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi RI Nomor 28 Tahun 2021 Tentang Organisasi dan Tata Kerja Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi".
Ministerial Decree No. 28 of 2021(PDF) (in Indonesian). Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.