Jakarta – The government has officially launched Sekolah Garuda, also known as SMA Unggul Garuda Baru, as part of its strategy to strengthen the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. In its first year of operation, Sekolah Garuda is providing full scholarships—covering 100 percent of costs—to all admitted students. This policy is expected to open the widest possible access for the nation’s top young talents to receive high-quality secondary education with global competitiveness.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto emphasized that improving the quality of human resources is a top government priority. According to him, national development does not rely solely on physical infrastructure but also on long-term investment through excellent and inclusive education.
“We want outstanding talents from our nation who are able to compete on the global stage,” Minister Brian said.
Brian further explained that the Garuda Scholarship program is designed to select the country’s best talents to pursue world-class education. The government is also preparing to expand advanced study schemes. Starting in 2026, learning opportunities will be strengthened through joint degree and double degree programs in collaboration with overseas universities.
“We will also select the best talents to study at top universities in Indonesia, with additional joint degree or double degree programs with institutions abroad,” Minister Brian explained.
The Minister also stressed that the selection process for the Garuda Undergraduate Scholarship is conducted objectively, transparently, and openly for participants from diverse regional backgrounds. The principle of meritocracy serves as the main foundation to ensure equal opportunities for all Indonesian students.
Meanwhile, Director of Strategy and Transformative Learning Systems at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Ardi Findyartini, stated that the 100 percent scholarship applies specifically in the first year. In subsequent years, the government will continue to provide scholarship support of at least 80 percent for Sekolah Garuda students. This policy is considered sufficient to maintain program sustainability while encouraging student independence.
Ardi also revealed that the government provides various supporting facilities for Sekolah Garuda students. These include English proficiency mapping, academic mentoring, and facilitation for university applications both domestically and internationally.
“There will be assistance with applications to overseas universities, particularly those that require an application process to obtain a letter of acceptance (LoA),” she said.
Regarding new student admissions, Ardi emphasized that Sekolah Garuda is open to all Indonesian children who demonstrate exceptional intelligence. Students from any region may apply as long as they meet the established requirements. Through this scheme, Sekolah Garuda is expected to become a driving force in producing an outstanding generation ready to position Indonesia competitively on the global stage. (*)