MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, PURWOREJO – Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti stated that students should not only be able to read but also understand what they read.
Mu’ti pointed to a global issue identified by UNESCO called “schooling without learning,” where students go to school but gain little meaningful knowledge. As an example, he explained that some students study math but still struggle with basic calculations and logical thinking.
“This is why test scores remain low in many areas. It’s not just happening here in Indonesia. PISA scores are low in many countries,” said Mu’ti in the 2025 National Seminar of Elementary School Teacher Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) on Thursday, May 22.
Another major issue is learning loss, a problem worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although digital learning helped schools continue teaching during lockdowns, it also created gaps in understanding and skill development.
“Learning loss hasn’t been fully addressed yet, and now we’re starting to see its effects,” he added.
Mu’ti mentioned a recent viral case of a middle school student who couldn’t read as an example of how serious the problem has become. He acknowledged that recovering from this learning loss will take time and consistent effort.
To tackle the issue, the Ministry of Education is focusing on improving teacher quality, since teachers play a key role in motivating students and ensuring effective learning.
“Teaching should be inspiring, not just dumping information on students,” he said.
Speaking to lecturers and students at UMPWR, Mu’ti stressed that Indonesia shouldn’t simply copy education systems from developed countries like Finland. Instead, it needs to shift its approach to learning.
“We need to move away from focusing only on test scores and start focusing on meaningful learning. Deep learning doesn’t just help us gain knowledge. It pushes us to develop and apply it,” he explained.
He clarified that deep learning isn’t about reducing the amount of material students learn, but about focusing on essential concepts and encouraging students to think critically and creatively. According to Mu’ti, real education goes beyond transferring information. It transforms how students think and learn.
