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 was 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 was 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 was 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 was 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 was "wasteful" and "disrespectful" towards thousands original human resources employed by the ministry.[16][20]
The minister of education, culture, research, and technology, appointed by the president at his own discretion, was 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 was 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][25][26]
Office of the 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 Owned Assets
Bureau of Human Resources Affairs
Bureau of Organization and Institutional Management
Bureau of Legal Affair
Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations
Bureau of General Affair and Procurement of Goods and Services
Directorate General of Teacher and Education Personnel
Secretariat of Directorate General of Teacher and Education Personnel
Directorate of Professional Development of Teacher
Directorate of Teacher for Early Childhood Education and Community Education
Directorate of School Principals, School Supervisor, and Education Personnel
Directorate of Teacher for Primary Education and Secondary Education
Directorate of Teacher for Second Secondary Education and Special Education
Technical Implementation Units
Professional Development Center for Educators of North Sumatera Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Java Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Central Java Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of East Java Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Yogyakarta Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of South Sulawesi Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Aceh Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Sumatera Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Riau Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Jambi Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Lampung Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Banten Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Bali Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Nusa Tenggara Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of East Nusa Tenggara Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Kalimantan Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of East Kalimantan Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of South Kalimantan Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Central Kalimantan Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of North Sulawesi Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Southeast Sulawesi Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Central Sulawesi Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Maluku Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Papua Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Papua Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Riau Islands Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Bangka Belitung Islands Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Papua Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of North Kalimantan Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of West Sulawesi Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of Gorontalo Province
Professional Development Center for Educators of North Maluku Province
Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Secondary Education
Secretariat of Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Secondary Education
Directorate of Early Childhood Education
Directorate of Primary School
Directorate of Secondary School
Directorate of Second Secondary School
Directorate of Community Education and Special Education
Technical Implementation Units
Education Quality Assurance Center of West Sumatera Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of West Java Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Central Java Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of East Java Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of South Sulawesi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Aceh Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of North Sumatera Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Riau Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Riau Islands Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Jambi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Bengkulu Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Bangka Belitung Islands Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of South Sumatera Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Lampung Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Banten Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of DKI Jakarta Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of DI Yogyakarta Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Bali Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of West Nusa Tenggara Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of East Nusa Tenggara Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of West Kalimantan Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of East Kalimantan Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of South Kalimantan Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Central Kalimantan Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of North Sulawesi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Southeast Sulawesi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Central Sulawesi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of North Kalimantan Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of West Sulawesi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of South Sulawesi Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Gorontalo Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Maluku Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of North Maluku Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of Papua Province
Education Quality Assurance Center of West Papua Province
Directorate General of Vocational Education
Secretariat of Directorate General for Vocational Education
Directorate of Vocational Secondary School
Directorate of Academic Vocational Higher Education
Directorate of Institutions and Resources of Vocational Higher Education
Directorate of Courses and Training
Directorate of Partnership and Alignment of Vocational Education with Business and Industry
Technical Implementation Units
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Arts and Culture
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Construction and Electricity
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Business and Tourism
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Agriculture
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Automotive and Electronics
Quality Assurance Development Center for Vocational Education in Maritime, Fisheries, Information and Communication Technology
Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology
Secretariat of Directorate General for Higher Education, Research, and Technology
Directorate of Learning and Student Affair
Directorate of Institutional
Directorate of Resources for Higher Education
Directorate of Research, Technology, and Community Service
Directorate General of Culture
Secretariat of Directorate General of Culture
Directorate of Belief in the God Almighty and Customary Law Communities
Directorate of Film, Music, and Media
Directorate of Cultural Protection
Directorate of Culture Development and Utilization
Directorate of Cultural Human Resource and Cultural Institutions Empowerment
Technical Implementation Units
Museum and Cultural Heritage (Indonesian Heritage Agency)
Cultural Preservation Office Region I
Cultural Preservation Office Region II
Cultural Preservation Office Region III
Cultural Preservation Office Region IV
Cultural Preservation Office Region V
Cultural Preservation Office Region VI
Cultural Preservation Office Region VII
Cultural Preservation Office Region VIII
Cultural Preservation Office Region IX
Cultural Preservation Office Region X
Cultural Preservation Office Region XI
Cultural Preservation Office Region XII
Cultural Preservation Office Region XIII
Cultural Preservation Office Region XIV
Cultural Preservation Office Region XV
Cultural Preservation Office Region XVI
Cultural Preservation Office Region XVII
Cultural Preservation Office Region XVIII
Cultural Preservation Office Region XIX
Cultural Preservation Office Region XX
Cultural Preservation Office Region XXI
Cultural Preservation Office Region XXII
Cultural Preservation Office Region XXIII
Cultural Media Management Office
Inspectorate General
Secretariat of Inspectorate General
Inspectorate I
Inspectorate II
Inspectorate III
Inspectorate IV
Inspectorate of Investigation
Agency for Standard, Curriculum, and Assessment in Education
Secretariat of Agency for Standard, Curriculum, and Assessment in Education
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 was a partner of the ministry in performing researches, and not a subordinate of the ministry.[27] 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.[27]
"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.