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Nadiem not only keeps his job but takes on additional tasks after ministry merger
Former CEO of tech giant Gojek Nadiem Makarim faces a huge challenge in managing a new ministry that is not only in charge of culture and education but also research and technology.
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Education up-close: Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim (left, on screen) speaks during a Jakpost Up Close webinar themed “Educating the nation: 2020 — 2045” in Jakarta on Aug. 12, 2020. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
T
he inauguration of Nadiem Makarim as the education, culture, research and technology minister on Wednesday may have put an end to weeks of rumors about his expulsion from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Cabinet.
But his new role, in which he holds the reins of two ministries merged into one, puts tough challenges before the former CEO of tech giant Gojek.
The inauguration was part of Jokowi’s decision to merge the Education and Culture Ministry, which was helmed by Nadiem, with the Research and Technology Ministry that was led by Bambang Brodjonegoro.
The move also entailed the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) as an independent state body. Previously, the agency had the same status as the Research and Technology Ministry.
Jokowi inaugurated Laksana Tri Handoko, the former head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), to lead the new research agency.
Weeks before the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, Nadiem had been touted as one of the ministers who may lose their jobs in the President’s reshuffling of the Cabinet.
