Indonesia expands foreign language options in primary schools, with English mandatory from 2027

Indonesia will make English a mandatory subject for primary school students starting from third grade in 2027.

President Prabowo Subianto also proposed early exposure to languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, and French, but the Education Ministry said these will remain introductory lessons.

The policy aims to strengthen students’ language skills and improve their competitiveness in the global job market.