The Indonesian school system covers twelve years in three stages: six years of primary, three of junior secondary and three of senior secondary. Teaching is in Bahasa Indonesia, the school year is July to June, and most children begin formal schooling at seven.
It is one of the largest school systems in the world. More than 50 million pupils are enrolled, a number exceeded only by China, India and the United States.
How the System Is Structured
| Stage | Grades | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| PrimarySekolah Dasar (SD) | 1 to 6 | 7 to 12 |
| Junior secondarySekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP) | 7 to 9 | 13 to 15 |
| Senior secondarySMA (academic) or SMK (vocational) | 10 to 12 | 16 to 18 |
Primary and junior secondary, nine years in all, are compulsory and free at state schools. Senior secondary is optional. The government is extending free schooling to twelve years, but state senior high schools can still charge fees.
At sixteen, pupils choose a track. SMA prepares them for university; SMK trains them for trades from engineering to hospitality.
The School Year and Starting Age
The year splits into two semesters, July to December and January to June, with the long holiday from late June to mid-July. Most international schools in Jakarta start a few weeks later, in August or early September.
Age is measured on 1 July. Children who are seven by then get priority for Grade 1, six is the minimum, and a child of five and a half can start with a psychologist's recommendation. State schools may not set a reading or writing test for entry.
The gap carries through school. At eleven, a child is in Year 7 in the UK, Year 6 in Australia, Grade 6 in the US, China, Japan or South Korea, and Grade 5 in Indonesia. A child who started Grade 1 at six sits one year further on. Birthdays matter too: Indonesia measures age on 1 July and England on 1 September, so a child born in July or August can land in a different year group in each system.
State, Private and Islamic Schools
Two ministries share the system. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education oversees general schools. The Ministry of Religious Affairs oversees madrasahs, which teach the national curriculum plus Islamic studies, in parallel stages called MI, MTs and MA.
Most private schools belong to foundations, religious organisations or community groups, and many charge modest fees. At the other end are bilingual private schools in Jakarta and Surabaya, which teach the national curriculum in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
State schools are still in demand. At senior level they take most pupils, even where private schools outnumber them, and places at the best are competitive. Alongside them sit the pesantren, Islamic boarding schools recognised in law since 2019, which combine religious study with general schooling.
The money is fixed by the constitution. Since 2002 the state has had to spend at least 20% of its budget on education.
Kurikulum Merdeka
The national curriculum is Kurikulum Merdeka, the "independent curriculum", standard in every school since 2024/25. It cut content, added project work and gave teachers more say over pace.
Every primary pupil studies:
- Religion and character, in the family's own faith. Indonesia recognises six religions.
- Pancasila, the state ideology, taught as civics.
- Bahasa Indonesia and maths.
- Science and social studies, combined as one subject from Grade 3.
- PE and at least one art: music, visual art, dance or theatre.
- A local subject set by the region, often a regional language.
Two changes are under way:
- Coding and AI, from 2025/26. Phased in from Grades 5, 7 and 10.
- English, from 2027/28. Compulsory from Grade 3. Until then it is optional at primary.
In Grades 11 and 12, pupils choose elective subjects. Kurikulum Merdeka abolished the old science, social and language streams; in 2025 the minister proposed bringing them back.
Exams and University Entry
Indonesia has no national leaving exam. The Ujian Nasional was scrapped in 2021, and each school now decides who graduates.
Two national tests remain:
- Asesmen Nasional measures schools. A sample of pupils in Grades 5, 8 and 11 take reading and maths tests, and the results rate the school.
- The Tes Kemampuan Akademik (TKA) measures pupils. It started in 2025 and is optional, but popular state schools and universities use the scores to choose who gets in.
There are three ways into a state university:
- Based on your grades in secondary (SNBP). School grades are checked against the TKA. At least 20% of places.
- Through the national entrance exam (SNBT). At least 40% of places.
- By applying to the university directly (mandiri). Each university sets its own selection, and many charge an extra fee. Up to 30% of places.
Private universities, which far outnumber state ones, set their own admissions. Universities abroad, including in the UK, often ask national school leavers to take a foundation year first.
How Indonesian Schools Perform
Almost every child now goes to primary school, but fewer stay on.
98%
of primary-age children are in primary school
4 in 5
of junior secondary age are in junior secondary
Under 2 in 3
of senior secondary age are in senior secondary
Source: BPS net enrolment rates, 2024.
In the OECD's 2022 PISA tests of fifteen-year-olds, 18% of Indonesian pupils reached basic proficiency in maths, against 69% across the OECD. In reading the figures were 25% and 74%.
International Schools
International schools in Indonesia are licensed as SPK schools (Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama). Each teaches a foreign curriculum in partnership with an overseas school or exam body. Indonesian pupils at an SPK school must still study Bahasa Indonesia, religion and civics.
| National school | International school | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Bahasa Indonesia | Mostly English |
| Curriculum | Kurikulum Merdeka | British, IB, American or Australian |
| Final qualification | School certificate and TKA scores | IGCSE and A Levels, IB Diploma, or AP |
| Universities | Mainly Indonesian | Indonesia and abroad |
While international schools are of course popular with expatriate families, most of the growth comes from affluent Indonesian families, who want English-medium teaching and qualifications recognised worldwide. At most international schools in Jakarta, and elsewhere in Indonesia, Indonesian children are now the majority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is school free in Indonesia?
Primary and junior secondary are free at state schools. State senior high schools can still charge fees, and private schools set their own.
What age do children start school in Indonesia?
Formal schooling usually starts at seven. Children who are seven by 1 July get priority for Grade 1, six is the minimum, and a child of five and a half can start with a psychologist's recommendation. Kindergarten (TK), from age four, comes before that and is optional.
How many years of school are compulsory in Indonesia?
Nine: six years of primary and three of junior secondary. Senior secondary is optional.
Is English taught in Indonesian schools?
Yes, as a subject. It is compulsory in secondary school and optional at primary until 2027/28, when it becomes compulsory from Grade 3. All other subjects are taught in Bahasa Indonesia.
Does Indonesia have a national exam?
Not a pass-or-fail one. The Ujian Nasional was scrapped in 2021 and schools decide who graduates. Since 2025 pupils can sit the optional TKA, which popular state schools and universities use to choose pupils.
Can foreign children attend Indonesian state schools?
It is possible but rare. Teaching is in Bahasa Indonesia, so most expatriate families choose an international school.
What is an SPK school?
SPK (Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama) is the licence for international schools in Indonesia. An SPK school teaches a foreign curriculum, such as the British curriculum or the IB, in partnership with an overseas body.