Indonesia Promotes Deep Learning Approach to Transform Education

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is advancing a Deep Learning approach aimed at transforming the country’s education system by placing classroom instruction and students’ learning experiences at the center of efforts to improve educational outcomes.

In a written statement, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti said meaningful improvements in education depend not only on what students learn, but also on how they experience the learning process.

“We want to address the problems in our education sector at their root—starting with the learning approach we are developing, which we call Deep Learning,” Mu’ti said.

He explained that the approach is built around three core principles: mindful, meaningful and joyful learning, with students’ experiences serving as a central element of the teaching and learning process.

According to the minister, the quality of learning should serve as the principal driver of educational success, supported by an educational mindset that recognizes and values every student.

“Deep Learning is an approach centered on the core principle of respect. The keyword is respecting—respecting students, respecting teachers, and respecting knowledge,” Mu’ti said.

He stressed that every student should be treated with respect regardless of academic performance, abilities or personal background.

Meanwhile, Tatang Muttaqin, Director General of Secondary and Special Education, said strengthening the implementation of Deep Learning is essential to transforming Indonesia’s education system and making vocational education more adaptive to changing needs.

He said the Deep Learning Implementation Awards have been introduced to recognize teachers who identify educational challenges, develop innovative teaching strategies and share effective practices that can be replicated by other educators and schools.

The initiative assesses the learning process comprehensively, beginning with the identification of problems and selection of appropriate teaching methods and extending to the measurement of their tangible impact on students.

Held from July 22 to August 9, 2026, the Deep Learning Implementation Awards involved 250 schools that received training in 2025. The programme recognized the top 10 projects across several categories, highlighting innovative approaches aimed at strengthening the quality and effectiveness of learning in Indonesian schools.

The initiative reflects Indonesia’s broader efforts to improve education by empowering teachers, strengthening classroom practices and ensuring that students’ learning experiences remain at the heart of educational transformation.