Minister ties education reform to natural resource sovereignty

 Indonesia’s Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti has warned that the nation’s vast natural wealth will remain untapped without a significant upgrade in human capital, urging students to master skills necessary for national economic sovereignty.

Speaking Thursday at a school in West Java, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education addressed a critical paradox in Southeast Asia’s largest economy: while Indonesia is rich in minerals and biodiversity, its human resources often lack the specialized knowledge required to transform these raw assets into high-value national welfare.

“Many natural resources cannot be utilized because we lack the necessary knowledge and skills,” Mu'ti told students at State Junior High School 1 Tarogong Kaler in Garut.

“Without early preparation, the opportunities bestowed by our natural wealth may never be fully realized.”

The Minister’s remarks come as Indonesia pushes for a "downstreaming" economic policy, which seeks to process raw materials domestically rather than exporting them.

This shift requires a workforce that is not only academically proficient but also technically skilled and resilient.

To foster this transformation, Mu'ti introduced a holistic approach to student development.

“With knowledge, everything becomes easier; with art, everything becomes beautiful; and with good character, everything becomes noble,” Mu'ti concluded, framing education as the essential bridge between Indonesia’s current status and its goal of becoming an advanced global power.