Prabowo Sets Out Five-Year Plan for School Renovation and Digital Learning

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has outlined a five-year programme of school renovation and digital reform aimed at improving education quality nationwide. Speaking at a televised public dialogue, he set out targets to upgrade hundreds of thousands of school buildings while accelerating the use of digital learning tools and centralised teaching resources. The measures are intended to reduce regional disparities, address teacher shortages, and strengthen Indonesia’s human capital as technology reshapes the global economy.

The plans were detailed during a public discussion broadcast on Saturday and reported by ANTARA News. Prabowo said education reform remains central to the government’s long-term economic and productivity goals, with a particular focus on improving learning conditions in remote and underserved areas.

Large-Scale School Renovation Targets

The president said the government aims to renovate 300,000 schools within five years as part of a major upgrade of education infrastructure. He acknowledged that progress has so far been uneven but said annual targets are increasing to accelerate delivery.

“I am currently carrying out physical repairs for schools. Last year, we were only able to reach 17,000 schools. This year, 70,000 are targeted. Next year, I want the number to increase to 90,000. Within five years, I want to complete 300,000 schools,” — Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia

The renovation programme is intended to address long-standing disparities in school facilities across Indonesia’s vast archipelago, particularly in frontier and outermost regions where infrastructure conditions often lag behind national standards.

Expanding Digital Learning Nationwide

Alongside physical upgrades, the government is pushing ahead with large-scale digitalisation of classrooms. Prabowo said more than 288,000 interactive flat panels have already been distributed to schools, including those in remote locations. The devices are equipped with educational content designed to support more interactive teaching and learning.

This effort builds on broader initiatives to modernise education in line with Indonesia’s evolving labour market, as explored in education and employment in the digital era. The increased use of smartboards and connected tools is also part of a wider shift towards technology-enabled classrooms, highlighted in coverage of digital tools driving modern learning.

Centralised Teaching to Address Staff Shortages

Prabowo also announced plans for a centralised learning system designed to reduce disparities in teaching quality between regions. Under the proposal, lessons delivered by experienced teachers would be broadcast to schools that lack specialist staff, particularly in subjects such as mathematics and English.

“We will set up a studio with the best teachers who will teach in schools lacking mathematics teachers, English language teachers,” — Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia

The approach aligns with ongoing discussions about how technology can support, rather than replace, educators, as outlined in analysis on using digital tools to empower teachers. Officials see centralised content delivery as a practical response to uneven teacher distribution across the country.

Education as a Driver of Human Capital

Prabowo framed the education overhaul as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Indonesia’s human capital in response to rapid technological change. He emphasised that sustained investment in schools, teachers, and learning systems is essential to maintaining productivity and supporting long-term economic growth.

“These are major leaps in our human capital development,” — Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia