May 21, 2026 | 05:31 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education stated that the minimum age requirement of seven years old for enrolling in elementary school no longer strictly applies. The ministry emphasized that while seven remains the priority age for enrollment, children under seven—or even under six—are now permitted to register provided they meet specific conditions.Gogot Suharwoto, the Ministry's Director General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Non-formal Education, stated that the elementary school age limit is regulated under Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2025 concerning the New Student Admission System (SPMB)."So, an age exception applies to the primary school level within the SPMB system. However, there is a crucial catch. The key lies in whether the child is genuinely ready to engage in elementary school learning," he said after the signing of a commitment for a friendly SPMB framework at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education office in South Jakarta on Thursday, May 21, 2026.Gogot's note refers to the requirement for prospective students to obtain a readiness statement before being accepted by a school. "From whom? From an expert. The expert is a trusted psychologist," Gogot said.Should parents lack an assessment or recommendation from a psychologist, they may substitute it with a recommendation letter issued by the teacher council of the respective educational unit. This provision is stipulated under Article 11, Paragraph 7 of Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2025 regarding the SPMB.The criteria allowing children under the age of six to enroll in elementary school also stipulate that the child must demonstrate exceptional intelligence or specific talent. "Thus, it is no longer mandatory to be seven years old, nor is a kindergarten diploma strictly required," Gogot added.House of Representatives Commission X Deputy Chair Himmatul Aliyah welcomed the flexible school enrollment age, which is no longer bound to a strict seven-year minimum. Himmatul noted that lawmakers are actively addressing the age issue within ongoing deliberations over the revision of the National Education System Bill (RUU Sisdiknas). In her view, age should never serve as a barrier preventing children from entering educational institutions."Children's intelligence varies," Himmatul said. "There are some who are ready to learn or even show extraordinary capabilities as early as age five or six. Therefore, this administrative barrier needs to be adjusted based on verified proof of the child's physical readiness and intellect."Read: Govt Launches 3+1 SMK Program for Overseas EmploymentClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
