TheJakartaPost

What does it really cost to educate an Indonesian child?

In the absence of data on the true cost of providing quality education, the country's education spending will remain driven by fiscal convenience and political compromise rather than pedagogical necessity.

3 hours ago

Charting China's rise as a global superpower

As China’s modern navy reclaims the global footprint of its ancient treasure fleets, Southeast Asia faces a crucial test of strategic survival, led by an Indonesia that must assert its independence before regional stability slips away.

3 hours ago

The Latest

Students drink milk as they eat lunch on Jan. 6, 2025, the first day of the free nutritious meal program at SMPN 12 Cimahi state junior high school in Cimahi, West Java.

Southeast Asia must make healthy diets affordable

Hunger is falling across Southeast Asia. The region’s next challenge is more demanding: ensuring that everyone can afford a healthy diet, not merely enough calories to survive.

4 hours ago

A vendor serves customers shopping for staple foods on June 11 at Kahayan Market in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.

Opinion premium

Analysis: Consumer confidence slips as livelihoods come under pressure

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell 3.1 points from 120.9 in May to 117.8 in June, the lowest reading since the index stood at 115 in September 2025, driven by weaker assessments of both current economic conditions and future expectations.

4 hours ago

Heroes’ welcome: Spain forward Ferran Torres (center right) raises the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy as his teammates celebrate on a stage at Cibeles Square in Madrid on July 20, 2026, one day after winning the country’s second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina.

World Cup 2026: The great and the good, the bad and the ugly

The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a thrilling 48-team spectacle culminating in Spain’s tactical triumph, yet behind the five-billion-viewer celebration lies a troubling balance sheet. From player burnout and commercial exclusion to political intrusion, this comprehensive autopsy reveals why soccer's stewards must urgently address systemic flaws before 2030.

4 hours ago

Students attend class at the SDN 2 Salakaria state elementary school in Ciamis regency, West Java on July 15, 2026. The school only had one new student for the 2026/2027 academic year as most of nearby residents are elderlies with no school-age children.

Editorial premium

When classrooms go empty

From shrinking birth rates to stagnant teaching quality, the country’s public elementary schools are facing a quiet crisis of empty classrooms - leaving educators and policymakers wondering where all the students went.

5 hours ago

Timor Leste's Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas (from left), Vietnam Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Brunei Foreign Minister Abdul Mateen Bolkiah, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, Laos Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Myanmar Permanent Secretary Hau Khan Sum and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn join hands during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Pasay, Metro Manila on July 22, 2026.

Academia

Japan-ASEAN: Navigating our future, together

To ensure the prosperity and stability of this region, it is crucial to realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, guided by the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as a key pillar of this endeavor.

23 hours ago

interview

Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy Vice Adm. Harold Liebergs.

premium

International cooperation key in facing emerging naval threats: Dutch Navy commander

Deputy Creative Economy Minister Irene Umar gestures during an interview with The Jakarta Post at the ministry office in Autograph Tower, Thamrin Nine, Central Jakarta, on May 7, 2026.

premium

Creative economy needs stronger inter-ministerial ties: Deputy minister

Trade Minister, Budi Santoso gestures while speaking during a special interview with The Jakarta Post on April 22 at the Ministry Of Trade office in Jakarta.

premium

RI seeks new suppliers, export markets as tensions mount: Trade minister

Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong

premium

‘China, Indonesia must continue upholding international fairness and justice’

German Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN Ralf Beste speaks on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, during the submission of his credentials as Ambassador to ASEAN to Secretary-General Dr. Kao Him Hourn.

premium

In turbulent times, shared interest can bridge value gaps: German envoy

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung gestures while speaking about his first year in office and developing the megalopolis on Jan. 20, 2026, during an interview with 'The Jakarta Post' at City Hall in Gambir, Central Jakarta.

premium

Jakartans must embrace global city status: Governor Pramono

Yahya Cholil Staquf, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), speaks during an interview on Jan. 29, 2026 with The Jakarta Post in Central Jakarta.

premium

NU must transform to navigate uncertain world order: Chairman Yahya

insight

Insight: The strategic role of PT SMI in fiscal policy and economic expansion

Indonesia’s future economic growth will not be determined solely by the size of government spending, but also by how effectively development financing is managed.

5 months ago

Insight: Rethinking work: Driving sustainable growth in the digital age

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped.

1 year ago

Insight: Innovations in managing and developing human capital

Over the past few years, the role of human resources (HR) has expanded far beyond administrative tasks. HR professionals today are expected to drive innovation, enhance the employee experience and align people strategies with business goals. With the help of technology, these responsibilities have become more manageable, and in many ways, more impactful.

1 year ago

Insight: AI and Efficiency: Sacrifices The Next Generation

Introduction: From One Disruption to Another

1 year ago

Insight: Securing a healthier future: The importance of Indonesia's plasma fractionation facility

The global health crisis brought on by COVID-19 tested healthcare systems worldwide, and Indonesia was no exception. As one of the world’s most populous nations, the nation faced immense challenges yet demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating the pandemic.

1 year ago