TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gadjah Mada University (UGM) lecturer Muhammad Nur Rizal delivers his analysis on the President’s naming of Nadiem Makarim as the Education and Cultural Affairs Minister. He argues that President Jokowi is trying to deliver a message of change.

“The appointing of [Nadiem] is because the president is sending across a message ‘hey, change needs to come, revolutionize our education system’,” said Rizal on the sidelines of a workshop held with 120 teachers in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, October 29.

The founder of the ‘joyful learning movement’ presumes that Nadiem was appointed for the generation that he represents; the millennial generation, that is deemed significant by the president in this day and age.

“Millennial generation should know best about the millennial's education,” said Rizal.

However, Rizal remains realistic and weighs-in the fact that Makarim will still be considered lacking in terms of experience and competence as a State Minister. However, he maintains that Nadiem has a strong vision as a natural leader, which is proven by his past as founder of ride-hailing service giant, GoJek.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)