Eyewitness – DENPASAR
The Bank Indonesia Representative Office for Bali Province, in collaboration with the Denpasar City Education, Youth, and Sports Department, successfully hosted the 2026 Denpasar Education Festival (DEF). Running from May 6 to May 7, 2026, the event coincided with National Education Day celebrations and focused on the structured and sustainable implementation of the “Cinta, Bangga, dan Paham (CBP) Rupiah” (Love, Pride, and Understanding of the Rupiah) program within the educational sector.
A Record-Breaking Opening
The festival kicked off on May 6 with a massive “Yoga Asana with CBP Formation,” which secured a MURI World Record. The feat involved 12,053 students from 238 schools across Denpasar. Held simultaneously at various school locations and centered at Lumintang Field, the event served as a powerful symbol of the integration of character building, mental health, and Balinese culture with the promotion of the national currency.
During the event, the Head of the Denpasar Education Department, Drs. Anak Agung Gede Wiratama, M.Ag., officially handed over Circular Letter No. 400.3/9113/Disdikpora to Indra Gunawan Sutarto, Deputy Head of Bank Indonesia Bali. This document outlines the CBP Rupiah Pilot School Program, marking a historic first in Indonesia for incorporating currency literacy into the primary and secondary education curricula.
The program is designed to integrate CBP Rupiah materials across:
• Intracurricular and co-curricular activities.
• Extracurricular programs.
• School culture and long-term educational ecosystems.
High-Level Support for National Literacy
The festival’s peak on May 7 was attended by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu’ti, M.Ed., alongside Bank Indonesia’s Bali Representative Achris Sarwani, and Denpasar Mayor Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara.
Achris Sarwani emphasized that the CBP Rupiah campaign is more than just a financial lesson; it is a movement to build national character and economic literacy from a young age.
”We invite all levels of society to love the Rupiah as a form of patriotism, take pride in it to safeguard national sovereignty, and understand its function in maintaining economic stability as we head toward Indonesia Emas 2045,” Sarwani stated.
Inclusive Education and National Recognition
Sarwani also highlighted two major achievements recognized by MURI:
• The First CBP Rupiah Pilot Schools in Indonesia: Involving 17 schools (8 elementary, 8 middle schools, and 1 international school) acting as role models for comprehensive implementation.
• The Massive Yoga Asana Event: An innovative national campaign merging local wisdom with character education.
Furthermore, appreciation was extended to the Ministry’s Curriculum and Learning Center (Puskurjar) for supporting the development of CBP teaching materials since 2024. Notably, these materials include Braille translations, ensuring that currency literacy is inclusive for students with special needs.
Minister Abdul Mu’ti concluded by praising the initiative, noting that DEF 2026 aligns perfectly with the government’s efforts to foster character education and environmental awareness among the younger generation.
Abdul Mu’ti expressed his high appreciation for the Denpasar City Government’s consistency in hosting an innovative educational festival with a broad community impact.
”I am delighted to convey my gratitude to all parties involved in the Denpasar Education Festival (DEF) 2026. This event demonstrates that education can serve as a collective space to build character, creativity, environmental stewardship, and national awareness,” Mu’ti stated.
A Vision for the Future
Overall, the Denpasar Education Festival 2026 is envisioned to be more than just an annual celebration of National Education Day. It is intended to serve as a strategic milestone in building an innovative, collaborative, and sustainable educational ecosystem. Furthermore, the event strengthens Bali’s positioning as a “Centre of Excellence” for the implementation of the Cinta, Bangga, dan Paham Rupiah program in Indonesia.
Reporter : Daniel Herry
