Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto’s newly announced Red-and-White Cabinet has sparked optimism for educational reform with the decision to split the education ministry into three distinct entities. Enggartiasto Lukita, Chairman of the Alumni Association of the Indonesian Education University (IKA UPI), welcomed the changes, expressing hope that the new structure will accelerate improvements in the country’s education sector.

The Red-and-White Cabinet divides the previously unified Ministry of Education and Culture into the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and the Ministry of Culture. Each ministry will be led by a minister, supported by two deputy ministers and one assistant minister, a move expected to sharpen focus and boost the achievement of priority educational programs.

Enggartiasto Lukita praised the restructuring and congratulated the newly appointed ministers. "We believe that under this new leadership, Indonesian education will progress significantly," Enggartiasto said following the inauguration of the cabinet ministers on Oct. 21, 2024.

He highlighted the impressive credentials of the new ministers, particularly Professor Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, appointed as Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and Professor Abdul Mu'ti, the new Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Professor Satryo previously served as Director General of Higher Education and was the architect of university autonomy policies, while Mu'ti has extensive experience managing education through his role as General Secretary of Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations.

Enggartiasto expressed further confidence in the four deputy ministers who will assist the education ministers, noting that their backgrounds in educational management strengthen the cabinet’s ability to deliver meaningful reforms. Fajar Riza Ulhaq and Atip Latipulhayat, both seasoned educators, will serve as Deputy Ministers of Primary and Secondary Education. Meanwhile, Fauzan, former Rector of Muhammadiyah University Malang (UMM), and cognitive science professor Stella Christie from Tsinghua University, will support the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

As the head of an alumni organization for educational institutions, Enggartiasto urged the two education ministries to focus on improving teacher development. He called for the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology to design programs that better adapt to technological advancements and the digital era.

"There's currently no clear distinction between graduates of educational and non-educational programs when it comes to becoming a teacher. We urge that teacher education be aligned with the mandate of the law, ensuring a clear pathway through teacher training institutions (LPTKs) to guarantee quality," he said.

He also called on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to address the uneven distribution of teachers across the country and to improve the welfare of educators, especially honorary teachers. Enggartiasto emphasized that many teachers continue to earn as little as Rp 500,000 ($32) per month, which he described as a major concern for the education sector.