- Indonesia has scrapped its hybrid learning plan, prioritizing in-person education for schools and universities to prevent learning loss.
- Education ministers emphasized that quality academic and character education remains a top priority, despite rising global oil prices and energy-saving proposals.
- Experts and lawmakers criticized hybrid learning for challenges like technology access and lesson absorption, urging that energy efficiency should not compromise education.
The Indonesian government has decided to scrap its hybrid learning plan, prioritizing in-person education despite earlier proposals aimed at reducing energy consumption. The initiative, initially announced by Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Pratikno on March 17, sought to implement a mix of online and offline learning for both secondary schools and universities starting in April. Rising global oil prices due to the ongoing United States-Israeli war on Iran prompted the government to consider energy-saving measures, including encouraging employees to work from home.
Just a week later, Pratikno clarified that schools would continue operating as usual, describing hybrid learning as “not an urgent necessity at this time”. He emphasized that preserving learning quality is crucial to prevent learning loss, which refers to the decline of academic skills or reversal of educational progress. “As the President prioritizes education, including programs such as school revitalization, Sekolah Rakyat, and Garuda School initiatives, we must accelerate improvements in overall education quality. This is the main priority”, Pratikno said.
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Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti also confirmed that schools would remain unaffected by the proposed energy-saving measures, highlighting the importance of academic and character education. The hybrid learning plan faced criticism from lawmakers and education experts. Maria Yohana Esti Wijayanti, deputy chair of the House of Representatives Commission X overseeing education, pointed out that students struggled with lesson absorption, maintaining discipline, and accessing technology. Similarly, Lalu Hadrian Irfani of the National Awakening Party (PKB) stressed that energy efficiency should not come at the expense of education quality.
Experts, including Anggi Afriansyah from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), warned that hybrid learning should be a last resort, as many parents cannot consistently support children learning from home. Meanwhile, Ubaid Matraji of NEW Indonesia argued that austerity measures should focus on funding adjustments rather than disrupting education. President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal program, which draws heavily from the education budget, will continue to meet children’s nutritional needs despite global economic pressures.
This decision reflects Indonesia’s commitment to maintaining in-person learning while balancing fiscal and energy considerations amid an uncertain global environment
