Kindergarten to High School Graduations Not Mandatory, Ministry Says

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has finally announced that graduations for kindergarten, junior high school, to senior high school are not mandatory.

This is based on Circular Letter Number 14 of 2023 concerning Graduation Activities in Early Childhood Education Units, Primary Education Units, and Secondary Education Units.

The Ministry also emphasized that schools should not burden parents of students for graduations that had been circulated on social media.

"In connection with the phenomenon and culture of graduation activities carried out in early childhood education units, basic education units, and secondary education units, we respectfully appeal not to require graduation activities and the implementation of graduation activities does not burden parents/guardians of students," read the circular letter signed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Suharti, on Sunday.

On the same occasion, the Ministry of Education and Culture explained that activities at the school level must involve school committees and parents. This is in line with Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 75/2016 on School Committees.

"Ensure that activities at early childhood education units, primary education units, and secondary education units in your working area involve school committees and parents/guardians of students."

In the circular, MoEC also asked the Head of the Provincial Education Office and the Head of the Regency/City Education Office to provide guidance to all education units in their area.

"Heads of Provincial Education Offices and Heads of Regency/City Education Offices should provide guidance to all education units in their areas to improve the quality of learning and the quality of services to students."