A President with Only a High School Diploma? It’s Time to Raise the Bar

JAKARTA, H OS LAW FIRM - Under current Indonesian law, the minimum educational requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates is only a high school diploma (or its equivalent). This provision, as laid out in the a quo Article currently under constitutional review in Case No. 154/PUU-XXIII/2025, is not only outdated—it contradicts the spirit of the Constitution and jeopardizes the public’s constitutional right to competent national leadership.

In a rapidly evolving global landscape, where the responsibilities of a head of state are more complex than ever, such a minimal educational standard is clearly inadequate. It not only undermines public trust in leadership, but also opens the door to unqualified individuals occupying the most strategic positions in the nation.

The Modern Presidency Demands More

The 21st century has ushered in unprecedented challenges: from global economic instability, digital disruption, and climate change, to shifting geopolitical alliances and transnational threats. Managing these demands a president who can engage in strategic thinking, demonstrate intellectual depth, and make evidence-based decisions in the national and international arena.

While intelligence is not exclusive to degree-holders, higher education provides a structured environment to cultivate critical thinking, analytical skills, and multidimensional problem-solving abilities—all essential tools for state leadership. It is not unreasonable, then, to expect that someone aiming to lead a country of over 270 million citizens possess at least a university-level education.

After all, even mid-level managerial positions in the private sector typically require a bachelor's degree. Shouldn’t the same—if not higher—standard apply to the presidency?

Democracy Requires Fair Standards

Some might argue that requiring higher education for presidential candidates is elitist or exclusionary. In truth, such a standard promotes meritocracy, not elitism. Democracy thrives not on populism alone, but on competence and accountability.

By allowing candidates with only high school education to run for the nation’s highest office, the law inadvertently lowers the quality threshold and undermines citizens who have invested years into higher education. This creates an uneven playing field and erodes the sense of fairness and justice in democratic competition.

Moreover, such a minimal requirement threatens the public’s constitutional right to good governance. A president must not only command authority but also understand legal frameworks, policy design, economic structures, and diplomatic protocols. Failing to mandate sufficient academic preparation for such a role is, in effect, a failure to protect the people’s right to competent leadership.

Higher Education Is a Reasonable, Constitutional Requirement

Setting a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (S-1) or equivalent for presidential candidates is not a form of discrimination. On the contrary, it is a reasonable and proportional limitation that aligns with the principle of equal opportunity—because access to higher education is open to all citizens. The requirement doesn't exclude; it encourages.

In fact, this move could catalyze a cultural shift toward valuing education more deeply in the political landscape. It sends a powerful message: that Indonesia values leadership based on substance, not merely charisma or popularity.

Importantly, this is not about disqualifying certain individuals based on the past. It's about setting future standards that reflect our evolving needs as a nation. It is a matter of institutional integrity and national dignity.

Time for Indonesia to Raise Its Standards

The existing article requiring only high school education was not crafted based on legal reasoning or academic studies. Historical records suggest that it was the result of political compromises—crafted to accommodate certain candidates in power struggles, not to serve the people or uphold the Constitution.

Today, the Constitutional Court has a moral and constitutional obligation to revisit and revise this norm. Indonesia must aspire to a leadership standard that is intellectually prepared and strategically equipped to face both domestic and global challenges.

Meningkatkan pendidikan Persyaratan bagi calon presiden untuk gelar universitas bukanlah suatu kemewahan. Ini adalah kebutuhan mendesak—perlindungan konstitusional dan tuntutan publik. Karena di negara sebesar dan kompleks ini, kepemimpinan bukan tentang siapa yang menginginkan pekerjaan yang paling banyak. Ini tentang siapa yang paling siap untuk menghadapinya.

Indonesia pantas tidak kurang.

 

 

 

By: H OS LAW FIRM

Advokat/Konsultan Hukum - Attorneys at Law – Jakarta