On Thursday, April 10, 2025, a significant milestone in Indonesia's educational landscape was achieved with the inauguration of the Mandarin Language Center at the Putera Harapan School (Puhua School) in Purwokerto. This center stands as the first and only of its kind at the secondary school level in the country, marking a pivotal step towards enhancing language education.
The inauguration ceremony was a lively affair, featuring traditional performances such as the barongsai (lion dance) and dragon dance, showcasing the vibrant cultural exchange that the school promotes. Dr. Fajar Riza Ul Haq, the Vice Minister of Basic and Secondary Education of Indonesia, officiated the event, emphasizing the importance of multilingual education in fostering communication across cultures.
“When we introduce three languages, we are essentially opening a window to the world,” Dr. Ul Haq remarked, highlighting the school’s commitment to trilingual education. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of the Indonesian government to enhance linguistic diversity and cultural understanding among its youth.
In conjunction with the center's opening, the Vice Minister also launched the Trigatra Bangun Bahasa Program at Puhua School. This program integrates Indonesian, regional languages, and foreign languages into the educational curriculum, promoting a holistic approach to language learning. Puhua School has been designated as an official implementer of this innovative program, which aims to equip students with essential language skills for a globalized world.
Yudi Sutanto, PhD, Chairman of the Putera Harapan Foundation and the Indonesian Trilingual School Association (Perstibi), expressed the vision behind this trilingual education model. “Trilingual education is not just a teaching strategy; it is an effort to cultivate a generation rooted in national culture while being competitive on a global scale. Mandarin is an essential competency for the future,” he stated.
Underlining the significance of Mandarin education, Yudi noted that the school has established collaborations with Tianjin University in China for a Master's Program in Mandarin Language Education. In 2024, 39 teachers from trilingual schools across Indonesia were sent to Tianjin to enhance their teaching skills. This initiative aims to address the shortage of qualified Mandarin instructors in Indonesia, reducing the reliance on native speakers who often have short-term contracts.
As Puhua School solidifies its position as a pioneer in inclusive trilingual education, it stands ready to adapt to global trends while fostering national pride among its students.
In another significant development for Mandarin education in Indonesia, more than 1,800 students from across the nation are set to participate in the Mandarin Champion 2025 national poetry reading competition. Organized by ChineseRd, a Mandarin language institution based in Shenzhen, China, and Universitas Bunda Mulia (UBM) Jakarta, the competition began on February 15, 2025, and aims to promote Mandarin language proficiency among Indonesian youth.
The preliminary rounds of the competition have been conducted online, with the final round scheduled for April 26, 2025, at Universitas Bunda Mulia Jakarta. Yenli Megawati, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and External Relations at UBM, stated, “This event is a continuation of the ongoing collaboration between UBM and ChineseRd. The poetry reading competition provides a great opportunity for students to develop their Mandarin language skills beyond just writing, reading, and speaking; it allows them to delve into literature as well.”
Guo Xinlin, the Founder and Chairman of ChineseRd, emphasized that the Mandarin Champion 2025 competition is not only a platform for showcasing language skills but also a means of introducing Chinese culture to Indonesian youth. “We hope this competition encourages young people in Indonesia to further develop their Mandarin language abilities,” he said.
Participants in the competition are not required to pay an entry fee, and substantial prizes await the winners, including full scholarships to study at Universitas Bunda Mulia and online Mandarin courses from ChineseRd. The use of advanced AI technology for voice recognition and pronunciation analysis has streamlined the selection process, allowing 300 participants to advance to the semi-finals.
ChineseRd has also launched AI learning tools, including an AI scene Mandarin dialogue tool, designed to enhance the learning experience for students. This innovative approach aims to provide more engaging dialogue practice scenarios for Indonesian learners of Mandarin.
Dr. Symphony Akelba Christian, the Head of the Mandarin Language Study Program at UBM, noted that this is the first Mandarin poetry reading competition in Indonesia to utilize AI technology developed by ChineseRd. The hope is that this technological integration will attract even more Indonesian students to learn Mandarin.
With previous competitions in Hong Kong attracting up to 15,000 students, the Mandarin Champion 2025 is poised to set a new precedent for language competitions in Indonesia. Support from various organizations, including the Jakarta Coordination Agency for Mandarin Education and the Association of Trilingual Schools in Indonesia, has bolstered the event's credibility and outreach.
As Indonesia continues to embrace multilingual education and cultural exchange, initiatives like the Mandarin Language Center at Puhua School and the Mandarin Champion 2025 competition highlight the nation's commitment to preparing its youth for a globalized future. These efforts not only enrich the educational landscape but also foster a deeper understanding of cultural diversity among Indonesia's younger generations.
