Deputy Minister of Higher Education on Portuguese language in schools: making it easier to find work in foreign countries

Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Wamen Dikti), Fauzan, opened his voice on President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to include Portuguese language lessons in Indonesian schools. Fauzan said that teaching foreign languages ​​makes it easier for people to communicate internationally. “What this means is that we have been asked by the president to learn foreign languages ​​so that we can communicate internationally,” Fauzan told journalists on Friday (23/10/2025). Fauzan said that learning a foreign language also makes it easier for Indonesians to find work abroad. He said that until now Indonesian people have faced language challenges to be able to pursue professions in other countries. Scroll to continue content “It will also make it easier to find work abroad, because there are many jobs abroad, but one of our obstacles is language,” he said. However, Fauzan said that the instructions regarding learning are not only focused on Portuguese. According to him, the government will also intensify learning in English, Arabic and Chinese. “Not only English, but also Arabic, Chinese and others,” he said. Prabowo previously admitted that he would give directions to the Minister of Higher Education and Technology Brian Yularto and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti to pursue Portuguese language learning. He hopes that this step will soon be implemented in schools. “And will instruct the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Basic Education of Indonesia to start teaching Portuguese in our schools. This is proof that the relationship between Brazil and Indonesia is very great,” Prabowo said during a bilateral meeting with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (23/10/2025). (dwr/rfs)