President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has inaugurated the new Cabinet to assist his second term, which will end in 2024. The new Cabinet and structure includes a couple of significant points to note for Higher Education. The digital entrepreneur and GoJek co-founder, Nadiem Makarim, has been appointed as the new Education and Culture Minister, to the surprise of many. This indicates a wish by Jokowi to streamline Indonesia's bureaucratic education system.

Other Ministers to note in the new Cabinet:

• Religious Affairs Minister, Fachrul Razi (former Indonesian Military deputy commander)
• Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati (finance minister in Jokowi’s first-term Cabinet)
• Research and Technology Minister, Bambang Brodjonegoro (former national development planning minister)

In Jokowi’s second term, higher education is to be managed by the Education and Culture Minister, whereas previously it was under the Research Technology and Higher Education Minister. Therefore, Nadiem Makarim will be responsible for primary to higher education. Meanwhile education that is religious affiliated is still under Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).

Commentary by Lisa Wilianto, Programme Manager, British Council Indonesia, Lisa.Wilianto@britishcouncil.or.id:

The appointment of Nadiem (GoJek founder) as the Minister of Education and Culture has create mixed reactions, as many people had initially expected him to play a more significant role in boosting the country’s digital economy. Nadiem founded app-based transportation service GoJek in 2010. One of Jokowi’s goals is improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources and he believes that Nadiem can make a breakthrough in transforming education.

Regarding LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) scholarships, it is still administed by the Ministry of Finance. We anticipate further policy to be announced in due course.

Sources:

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/10/23/breaking-jokowis-new-cabi...

https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2019/10/24/jokowi-appoints-nadiem-makarim-as-education-minister-can-the-gojek-co-founder-streamline-bureaucracy-in-education.html