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Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and is considered the fourth most populous country in the world. The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is home to majority of the country’s international schools. These schools are catered for children of expatriates as well as children of mixed Indonesian-expatriate parents.
Here are five things about international schools in Indonesia that you should know:
1. The removal of ‘International’ in school names
Since 2015, the Indonesian government has grouped international schools which were not run by embassies under SPK Schools (Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama/Collaborative Education Unit). Under this regulation, international schools are not allowed have the word ‘International’ in their school names. International schools in Indonesia must also have a direct link with overseas schools or education authorities.
2. Compulsory learning of the Indonesian language and culture
All national, international and embassy schools are required to include Indonesian culture and learning of the national language into the school syllabus. Therefore, both local and expatriate teachers must have at least five years of qualified teaching experience and must be proficient in Bahasa Indonesia. These qualifications are necessary to teach Indonesian related subjects to international school students.
3. The highest number of international schools in Southeast Asia
According to the International School Consultancy (ISC), there are 195 registered international schools in Indonesia, the highest in Southeast Asia. Approximately 59,600 students attend these international schools. Indonesia has become a popular country to set up international schools due to the growth of the education sector. There is also a steady demand for English-medium education from wealthy local parents and expatriates.
4. The popularity of the British Curriculum
More than half of the international schools in Indonesia offer the National Curriculum of England, also known as the UK Curriculum or the British Curriculum. A number of schools also offer the American Curriculum. Popular examinations at secondary school level and pre-university level are the IGCSE and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) respectively.
5. Home to a number of international preschools
In addition to international schools, many international preschools are located in Indonesia. International preschools are mostly catered to expatriate children and adapt early years’ curricula from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Classes at international preschools are commonly conducted in a combination of English and Bahasa Indonesia.
To find out more about international schools and preschools in Indonesia, make sure to use the powerful School Finder on www.EducationDestinationAsia.com.
