Support the Development of Esports, Mobile Legends Game Will Be Included in the School Curriculum in Surabaya Starting Next Academic Year

Kapanlagi.com - The video game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is reported to be included in the school education curriculum as a non-academic (extracurricular) activity in the capital of East Java Province starting the next new academic year. This news was conveyed directly by Tri Endang Kustianingsih, Head of the Teacher and Educational Personnel Division of the Surabaya City Education Office, during the opening session for the MLBB Teacher Ambassador program on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

The plan to add the game developed by Moontoon Games into the subject matter is seen as an innovation that can serve as an educational learning aid. The Surabaya City Government is also known to have fully supported this program because through the character values of the game, students can gain new knowledge beyond academic education.

"The target is probably the new academic year because the teachers have been trained to create a new learning strategy, so they also need to know that there is educational learning in it. What kind of educational games will later be emphasized to the teachers (and) to our children," Endang stated, as quoted from the official website of the East Java Communication and Information Office.

1. Efforts to Change Negative Perceptions of Society Towards Esports

Mobile Legends has entered the curriculum of schools in Surabaya. (credit: BlueStacks)

The Head of the Moonton Games Ecosystem Development Division, Erina Tan, added that teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels are targeted to become intermediaries for positive change in schools by utilizing games as a constructive learning medium. This aligns with the mission to change the negative stigma surrounding gaming habits among children.

To this day, esports is one of the fields that is often underestimated by society. Many believe that a person's future is unclear simply because they focus on the world of games. In fact, games are one of the platforms that can help expand connections and create a space for creativity for children.

According to Erina, a well-managed game is one that can serve as a 'bridge' for children to understand technology, collaborate, and solve problems. Thus, a game can also play a role as a channel for someone's talents in the professional field--something that is not widely recognized by society through formal education.

2. The Positive Side of Games for the Younger Generation

Mobile Legends is included in the school curriculum of Surabaya. (credit: Screen Score)

The Deputy Governor of Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi, stated that online games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang can have a positive impact in educating the younger generation to develop discipline, sportsmanship, and strong social skills if directed properly. The negative perception surrounding video games, which is still deeply rooted in the surrounding environment, needs to be re-evaluated because, in reality, games have the potential to help young people channel their talents and eventually work in that field.

"All this time, we only knew that playing games is not educational and even unproductive. However, through this program, we believe it can enhance the quality of education not only in Surabaya, but also in Indonesia and provide opportunities for the younger generation to pursue careers in the esports industry in the future." Eri concluded.

The inclusion of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as an extracurricular activity in schools is seen as aligned with the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum and coding that is currently being designed by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikdasmen). Endang also noted that students can gain enjoyable learning experiences if video games can serve as a means of character education while also positively supporting their achievements.

3. Background for Choosing the City of Surabaya

Mobile Legends is included in the school curriculum of Surabaya. (credit: ONE Esports)

Surabaya has been designated as the city to implement the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang program as part of the school curriculum. This is based on data held by Moonton Indonesia that indicates the City of Surabaya has a high number of player accounts for this game. Therefore, the capital of East Java Province is considered ready to realize its innovation.

"We see the readiness of a region, that East Java, especially the City of Surabaya, is ready to bring innovation and more up-to-date development in the fields of digital and AI. Hopefully, this program can further advance innovation for all ages." Erina added.

4. Further Supervision Needed

Mobile Legends has entered the curriculum of schools in Surabaya. (credit: Ambisius Wiki)

Although it sounds very enjoyable, this innovative breakthrough in the field of education still requires serious supervision according to several experts. Lukman Hakim, an IT expert from Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya, stated that several studies linking games to children's behavior indicate the potential emergence of negative behaviors, such as neglecting studies, addiction, and aggressiveness.

Quoting from the UM Surabaya website, parents and schools are emphasized to always accompany students to prevent them from falling into negative aspects that may arise from the implementation of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang extracurricular program. Education regarding digital ethics is also very important to provide before the program takes place, accompanied by the implementation of a well-prepared curriculum.

"With the right curriculum approach, Mobile Legends can be an entry point to introduce the world of technology and the creative industry to students in a relevant and engaging way." Lukman stated.

(kpl/rtr)