This study examines the implications of education policies implemented during the New Order era on human resources in Indonesia. The New Order era, which lasted from 1996 to 1998, placed education as an important milestone in driving the national development agenda. Policies such as literacy eradication, compulsory education programs, and scholarships, had a major influence in increasing access to education and significantly reducing illiteracy rates. However, these policies also faced various challenges, including a greater focus on quantity than quality, and strong political influence in the education system. This study uses a qualitative method based on literature review to explore the successes and failures of education policies during that era. The results of the study show that the New Order education policies succeeded in expanding access to education, but were less than optimal in improving the quality of human resources as a whole. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of future education policies.