Indonesia to introduce Freedom in Learning program at G20 EdWG

Jakarta, March 16 (ANTARA) - The Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry will present the innovative Freedom in Learning (Merdeka Belajar) Program at the G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting. "Indonesia has been assessed as a successful country in carrying out a quality comprehensive education transformation despite the difficult situation due to the pandemic," Director General of Teachers and Educational Staff at the ministry Iwan Syahril said in a media briefing on Tuesday. Indonesia, as the chair of 2022 G20, will lead the G20 EdWG meeting to discuss four priority agendas, including quality universal education, digital technology application for education, solidarity and partnerships for education, and the future of the post-COVID-19 worklife. The director general – who is also the chair of the working group -- has continued that mutual cooperation is the main spirit of Indonesia’s 2022 G20 Presidency, as reflected in the theme of the presidency which is ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’. “The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered various changes and innovations in various sectors, including the education system. It does not only happen in Indonesia, but it also occurs all over the world," he remarked. Hence, collaboration from all parties is important to resolve educational and cultural problems through appropriate and innovative solutions, he said. Thus, amid the presidency, Indonesia is inviting the global community to cooperate with and support each other to recover together and sustainably improve educational and cultural sectors. “The key message of Indonesia’s 2022 G20 Presidency is cooperation. Hence, through the implementation of G20 EdWG, Indonesia invites G20 members to cooperate to discuss the attempts on establishing a quality education system through the four priority agendas," Syahril added. The first meeting of G20 EdWG will be conducted in Yogyakarta City on March 16-18, 2022. The ministry as the chair of the working group will also encourage G20 members to share their own experiences, challenges, as well as suggestions concerning various education issues and to find joint solutions regarding the matters.