Reported by R.I.

 

On Monday, 13 April 2026, a Halal Bihalal gathering at SMAN 8 Jakarta kicked off with a keynote session at 08:00 inside one of the school’s conference rooms.

The session featured BINUS’ Head of CDE Department Irfan Rifai as the main speaker, while Rita Suratiningsih, Head of English MGMP for Senior High Schools in Jakarta, took on the role of host. Rifai addressed fellow educators with the theme of “Empowering English Teachers With AI for Meaningful Learning” and presented on how artificial intelligence can support classroom teaching.

 

The event ran for four hours, drawing participants both in person and online. Attendance for the Zoom session was capped at 100 participants.

Whatever the debate around AI, this keynote is an indicator that English teachers in Jakarta are taking the technology seriously, exploring its potential as a practical tool in education.