Minister stresses ecological intelligence in shaping youth's character

hartono · May 7, 2026

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti speaks to journalists after attending the Denpasar Education Festival in Denpasar, Bali, on Thursday (May 7, 2026). ANTARA/Rolandus Nampu

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti emphasized the importance of building ecological intelligence and a safe school culture as part of shaping the character of Indonesia’s younger generation.

Speaking at the Denpasar Education Festival here on Thursday, he said ecological intelligence should be realized through habits of choosing environmentally friendly products and behaviors that support environmental conservation.

“We must have the intelligence to choose the products we use and avoid those that damage the environment,” he said.

According to him, the movement for a safe, healthy, clean, and beautiful lifestyle initiated by President Prabowo Subianto has a broad dimension, as it not only concerns environmental protection policies but also the development of community culture.

He noted that cultural factors are an important element in education, as education is essentially a process of building character and national culture.

In this context, he stressed that a safe school culture must be realized by eliminating all forms of bullying in educational environments.

He said bullying is not only physical violence but also verbal abuse and intolerant attitudes toward others.

“Building a safe culture means a culture where we respect one another,” he said.

According to him, respect should not be understood merely as tolerance, but must go beyond tolerance to include care and concern for others’ conditions.

Mu’ti also highlighted human tendencies toward selfish individualism and group-centered thinking, which may lead to neglect of broader interests.

In addition to safe schools, he emphasized the importance of developing healthy schools in line with the Ministry of Health’s programs.

He also mentioned that mental health issues are now a major challenge in modern society, making it a global concern.

Therefore, he called on all parties to work together to create an educational environment that is healthy, safe, and supportive of students’ mental well-being.