Overview of Indonesian Education System

The development of national education has become a top priority in Indonesian national development. National education is aimed at improving the intellectual life of the nation, and develop the Indonesian people fully, i.e. people who are devoted to God, who have knowledge and skills, who are good physical and spiritual health, who are independent and fair, and who feel responsible for their countryman and nation.

National education system aims to generate abilities and increase the standard of living and dignity of the Indonesian people in order to achieve the national development objectives. The national educational system is identified in terms of units, paths, types and levels of education.

1. Units of Education
   A unit of education (school or out-of-school) organizes learning and teaching activities, which are implemented within and outside the formal school system as well.
2. Paths of Education
   The education system recognizes two different education paths, i.e., school and out-of-school education. School education is organized in schools through teaching and learning activities which are gradual, hierarchical, and continuous. Education in the family, as an important part of the national education system (out-of-school education) functions in providing religious, cultural, and moral values and skills.
3. Types of Education
   The national education system (school as well as out-of-school) consists of seven types of education, namely:
   1. General Education, prioritizes expansion of general knowledge and improvement of skills for the students;
   2. Vocational Education, prepares students in mastering a number of specific vocational skills for employment;
   3. Special Education, provides important skills and abilities for students with physical and/or mental disabilities;
   4. Service-related Education, aims at increasing abilities required as job preparation for an official or a public/civil servant candidate for a Government or non-governmental agency to implement a certain task;
   5. Religious Education, prepares students to play a role which demands the mastering specific knowledge in religion and related subject;
   6. Academic-oriented Education, focuses primarily on improving mastery of science; and
   7. Professional Education, prepares students primarily for mastering specialized or job related knowledge and skills.
4. Levels of Education
   The formal (school-based) education system consists of basic education level, secondary education level, and higher education level. Apart from the levels of education mentioned above, preschool education is also provided. Preschool education is aimed at stimulating physical and mental growth of pupils outside the family circle before entering primary school. Among the types of pre-school education available are kindergartens and playgroups. Kindergartens are part of the school based education system, while the playgroups are part of out-of-school system.
   1. Basic education
      Basic education is -- in principle -- a general education of nine years, consisting of six years of primary school and three years of junior secondary school. Primary school consists of two different types of education -- general primary school, and special primary school for handicapped children.
      Junior secondary school organizes a 3-year education program after the six-year primary school program. It consists of two different types of education -- junior secondary school, and special junior secondary school for handicapped children. The goal of basic education is to provide students with the basic skills to develop themselves as individuals, members of society, citizens, and members of mankind, as well as to prepare them to pursue their study in secondary education.
   2. Secondary education
      Senior secondary education is available to graduates of basic education. The objectives of senior secondary education are:
      1. to develop students’ knowledge to continue their studies to higher levels of education and to develop themselves in accordance with the development of science, technology, and arts, and
      2. to develop students’ ability as members of the society to interact with their social, cultural, and natural environment.

      Senior secondary education consists of general secondary school, vocational secondary school, religious secondary school, service secondary school, and special secondary school.

      General secondary education gives priority to expanding knowledge and developing students’ skills and preparing them to continue their studies to higher level of education. Vocational secondary education gives priority to expanding specific occupational skills and emphasizes the preparation of students to enter the world of work and expanding their professional attitude.

      Religious secondary education gives priority to the mastery of special religious knowledge. Service secondary education is education, which emphasizes in improving the ability in the execution of service tasks of civil servants or candidates for civil service. Special secondary education is especially intended and designed for students with physical and/or mental disability.

   3. Higher education
      Higher education is an extension of secondary education, which consists of academic and professional education. Academic education is mainly aimed at mastering science, technology and research, whereas professional education is aimed more at developing practical skills. The institutions providing higher education are typically universities, institutes, college or schools of higher learning, academics and polytechnics. Higher education is divided into three levels, bachelor, master, and doctor’s degree.

As mandated by the National Education System’s Act, starting on the school year of 1994/1995 the nine-year basic education is implemented. The President launched the Universal Nine-year Basic Education program (UBE) on the Education Day, 2 May 1994. Since that time all school age children have the rights to nine-year basic education until they finish the junior secondary school level, and the government should provide education opportunity for them all.