Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti and Singapore’s Desmond Lee agreed to update the education MoU, leverage AI, and bridge learning gaps.
SINGAPORE, KalderaNews.com – A bilateral meeting between Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, and Singapore’s Minister for Education, Desmond Lee, marked a significant milestone in reinforcing bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.
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Held on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED) on Wednesday (22/7), the strategic meeting yielded several key agreements, ranging from the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning to the modernization of the bilateral education Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Bridging Educational Gaps Through Technology and AI
As an archipelagic nation with over 50 million students scattered across remote regions, Indonesia faces unique challenges in ensuring equitable access to quality education.
Aligning with the vision of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the government continues to champion flexible distance learning and technological integration to overcome geographical barriers.
“We can use technology to gain internet access, and we can use technology, including AI, as part of a strategy to eliminate the gap between students living in Indonesian cities and those living in remote parts of the country,” Minister Mu’ti stated.
However, the Minister emphasized that AI adoption must be balanced with the development of students’ critical and reflective thinking skills.
Sharing a personal anecdote about testing AI with local Javanese language requests, Mu’ti highlighted that technology still has inherent limitations and cannot fully replace human understanding of local languages, cultures, and contexts.
“Sometimes, AI can help them generate narratives or descriptions, but when it comes to reflective and critical thinking, it doesn’t do much,” he asserted.
Updating the Education MoU for 60 Years of Bilateral Ties
Responding to rapid global shifts, Singaporean Education Minister Desmond Lee initiated the renewal of the bilateral education MoU, which was last signed in 2017.
He stressed that technological advancements, the rise of AI, and global challenges necessitate a more adaptive and future-oriented partnership, especially ahead of the 60th anniversary of Indonesia-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2027.
“Since 2017, a lot has changed. Technology, AI, and our focus on global issues mean that domestically, we should seize this opportunity to improve the MoU, adjust it, and make it future-ready for Indonesia-Singapore collaboration,” said Desmond Lee.
Minister Mu’ti warmly welcomed the initiative, opening avenues for broader collaboration with entities such as Temasek and Singaporean corporations operating in Indonesia.
The partnership aims to enhance educational quality—particularly in regions close to Singapore, such as Sumatra and tackle learning loss challenges.
Strategic Agenda: Indonesian School in Singapore and Migrant Worker Competency
Beyond technology and curriculum development, the two ministers also discussed several critical agenda items:
- Indonesian School in Singapore (SIS): Addressing the continuity of the school’s operational location, which is set to expire in April 2027, to ensure uninterrupted educational access for Indonesian children in Singapore.
- Capacity Building: Focusing on professional development for educators and skills enhancement for Indonesian migrant workers in Singapore.
- Cultural Diplomacy: The warm meeting featured an exchange of cultural appreciation for traditional arts like the angklung, Cirebon’s Megamendung batik, Peranakan batik, and culinary heritage, reflecting the deep cultural bond between the two nations.
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