Press Release: The Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education and UNESCO Encourage the Young Generation to Become Solutions to Environmental Conservation Challenges

The Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education and UNESCO Encourage the Young Generation to Become Solutions to Environmental Conservation Challenges

Published on: 16 Juni 2026

Jakarta, June 16, 2026 - The future of food security, marine sustainability, and the quality of life of Indonesians depend heavily on the ability of the younger generation to understand and protect their environment. Therefore, education needs to provide learning experiences that are close to real life so that students can become part of the solution to various challenges. This is the basis for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to participate in the National Forum on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO (KNIU) in Jakarta on Monday (June 15).

The forum, themed " Biosphere Reserves and Oceans as Learning Spaces for People and the Planet ," brought together various national and international stakeholders, including government institutions, academics, civil society, the private sector, and development partners, to engage in dialogue on sustainable education policies and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.

In his remarks, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti emphasized that education must be able to develop the whole Indonesian person, in line with the direction of national development. He continued by stating that future challenges demand the creation of a generation with a balance between intellectual, emotional, and spiritual intelligence, along with environmental awareness, in line with the vision of President Prabowo Subianto.

"Education must connect students with the natural world in which they live. We must ensure that education not only produces people capable of living in the world, but also people capable of protecting it," he added.

He explained that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education continues to promote the implementation of a Deep Learning approach that enables students to learn reflectively, contextually, and meaningfully. In this approach, nature is viewed not only as an object of learning but also as a learning space that provides students with real-life experiences. Strengthening sustainable development education also aligns with efforts to build student character, fostering social awareness, critical thinking skills, and a spirit of mutual cooperation in addressing various global issues.

Meanwhile, Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, stated that global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation require a transformation in education. "ESD is not just about teaching sustainability topics. It's about transforming how we learn, how we teach, and how we interact with the world around us," she emphasized.

Through the Sustaining Our Oceans (SOO) project supported by Fast Retailing (UNIQLO), UNESCO and various partners continue to strengthen the capacity of educators and communities to become agents of change in maintaining marine sustainability.

The program has been implemented in Wakatobi through the development of learning materials that connect modern science with local ecological knowledge, making them more relevant to students' lives. The forum also marked the symbolic handover of the Wakatobiku learning package to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, demonstrating the collaboration between the government, international organizations, local governments, and various development partners in strengthening sustainable education in Indonesia.*** (Author: Uly/Photographer: Irfan)

Bureau of Communication and Public Relations
Secretariat General
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education

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