Sepaku, August 12, 2026 – In an effort to uphold the primacy of the Indonesian language, Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan conducted an evaluation of the guidance provided to educational institutions on the prioritization of the state language within the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area. The three-day field monitoring and assessment activity, held on August 5–7, 2026, targeted 10 schools, ranging from elementary to senior high and vocational levels, in Sepaku District and its surrounding areas. This activity is part of a long-term guidance program (2025–2029) aimed at ensuring the dignified and proper use of the Indonesian language across the IKN educational environment.
Based on the evaluation team’s field analysis and verification, most of the schools receiving guidance demonstrated positive progress, particularly in improving their use of Indonesian in official institutional documents. Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan emphasized that sustaining this progress requires consistent commitment from school leadership and administrative staff to ensure the continued application of proper and correct Indonesian language standards. Well-organized official documentation serves as a crucial foundation for establishing professional and accountable educational administration in the Nusantara region.
Regarding language use in public spaces and on school premises, the evaluation noted that several institutions had already made improvements. For those that had not yet done so, the team provided flexible technical input and recommendations. Schools are encouraged to gradually enhance the visibility of the state language on signage and room labels, whether by tailoring improvements to each institution’s budget or by utilizing affordable local materials, without compromising readability or aesthetics.
The assessment and technical guidance were carried out by a team led by Rahmad Hidayat, Head of the General Affairs Sub-division of Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan, and Widyabasa Misriani and Ali Kusno, as well as Policy Technical Analyst Abd. Rahman. The evaluation covered ten institutions, namely SDN 020 Sepaku, SDN 014 Sepaku, SDN 004 Sepaku, SDN 017 Sepaku, SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Penajam Paser Utara, SMP IT Maarif Sepaku, SMPN 27 Penajam Paser Utara, SMPN 2 Penajam Paser Utara, SMKN 1 Penajam Paser Utara, and SMAN 3 Penajam Paser Utara.
The comprehensive assessment summaries and strategic recommendations produced are intended to serve as a guide for continuous improvement. Through the collaboration and phased commitment of schools in the IKN, this program is projected to cultivate an educational ecosystem that is not only academically excellent but also stands as a national model for upholding the Indonesian language. (ak)
Translated by Muhammad Erwin Darma