Jakarta – Indonesia's Language Development and Cultivation Agency (Badan Bahasa) said Indonesian language learning for foreign speakers, known as BIPA, is now available in 61 countries worldwide.
Badan Bahasa head Hafidz Muksin said in Ungaran, Semarang Regency, on Wednesday that the agency is committed to supporting Indonesian language teaching for foreigners by providing BIPA instructors both offline and online.
"Currently, 61 countries already have BIPA programs, with more than 770 institutions involved, including Indonesian embassies, universities, and other organizations," he said.
He made the remarks during the 2026 International Conference of the Association of Indonesian Language and Literature Lecturers (Adobsi) titled "Transformation of Indonesian Language and Literature in Education and Technology: An Interdisciplinary Perspective" held at the Central Java Language Center office.
Hafidz said Badan Bahasa annually deploys BIPA teachers who are carefully selected based on Indonesia's National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI) for educators.
"This means only selected teachers are appointed as BIPA instructors," he said.
In addition to teachers, he said teaching modules are continuously developed and adapted to technological advances, including through the online BIPA platform.
"These modules are continuously improved and updated, including in terms of standards, quality, and variations," he said.
Badan Bahasa also works with the Association of Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers (APPBIPA) to expand BIPA programs in collaboration with universities in Indonesia and abroad.
Hafidz noted that global interest in learning Indonesian continues to grow, citing Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, which has opened an Indonesian language and literature study program.
"In the first semester of 2025 alone, more than 300 students enrolled in the Indonesian language program. This shows that Indonesian is increasingly becoming a global language," he said.
Going forward, Badan Bahasa and APPBIPA aim to expand BIPA programs to additional countries, further promoting the global reach of the Indonesian language.
"Cumulatively, we hope to add at least three or four more countries this year as new BIPA destinations, supported by universities and foreign students studying in Indonesia," he said.
He also noted that Indonesian has become an official language at UNESCO sessions and is the 57th official language used by Vatican News, a religious media platform reaching Catholics worldwide.
"This means global audiences who regularly follow news and messages from the Pope are now aware that Indonesian exists as a language. This is an opportunity we must continue to develop," he said.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2107901/indonesian-language-now-taught-in-61-countries-badan-bahas