TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir has prepared a blueprint for national youth development for the next 100 years.
Since he assumed his ministerial post, Erick said the overall youth sector has received primary attention, not just sports.
“If you recall, I first raised this issue. And, thank God, from several past discussions with experts, we see that 2028 is the 100th anniversary of the Youth Pledge. Which raises the question of whether our youth strategy will remain the same in the next 100 years? I’m sure there will be a big difference,” said Erick in a working meeting with House COmmission X, virtually observed on Tuesday.
The blueprint is necessitated by the bid to create a young generation who are future nation leaders, as well as to cultivate the demographic bonus as a potential source of Indonesian greatness.
“Especially since the latest data shows that 23.8 percent of our population is now 64 million young people. And if we look at the youth index, the youth baseline is stagnant or slow,” said Erick.
Erick said the government must prevent counterproductive bonus demography due to lack of preparation.
Erick said he is fully aware that youth development is a strategic investment that determines the quality of Indonesia’s leadership, innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in the future.
Therefore, he added, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is aiming for benefit-based budgeting to cut wasteful spending. “Therefore, in the 2027 budget, we are increasing the budget for the youth sector almost threefold. Hopefully, it won’t be reduced again, because despite the output seemingly being invisible, it would be a big mistake if we didn’t invest in our youth sector,” he said.
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