Prabowo Orders French in Schools: DPR Demands Answers

The DPR's call for clarification reflects concerns over curriculum readiness, teacher availability, and the alignment with national education priorities. Lawmakers question whether this directive was coordinated with the ministry or imposed unilaterally by the president. The issue exposes a potential gap between executive ambition and bureaucratic capacity.

French instruction would position Indonesia to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Francophone Africa and Europe, regions where China and India are already expanding influence. However, implementing a new language program requires significant investment in training, materials, and certification. Critics argue that resources should first address foundational literacy and numeracy gaps.

This directive follows Prabowo's recent state visit to France, where he and President Macron signed several cooperation agreements. The French language initiative appears to be a soft-power component of a broader strategic partnership. Indonesia currently offers French only in select international-standard schools, not the national curriculum.

Power Move: Prabowo's French language gambit is a long-term bet on geopolitical diversification. If executed properly, it could produce a generation of diplomats and business leaders fluent in a key UN language. But without a clear roadmap and funding, the order risks becoming another unfulfilled education reform.

This article was edited with AI assistance for readability. Read original here.