The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta is a vibrant city with a mix of Malay, Arab, Indian, and European influence. Schools in Jakarta are also at the center of Indonesia’s economy, culture and politics, which makes the city a top education hub in South-East Asia.
Jakarta has plenty of areas and suburbs popular for expats. South and Central Jakarta are the most popular areas for expats and where most schools are located. Meanwhile, East, West and North Jakarta have fewer expat residents.
There are a total of 170,000 primary schools, 40,000 junior-secondary schools and 26,000 high schools in Indonesia. Most schools in Indonesia (84%) are governed by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE). The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) governs 16% of these schools. As of 2015, Indonesia has a total of 190 international schools.
Jakarta is home to many students from other cities in Indonesia. Most of these students stay in dormitories. There are primary and secondary schools in Jakarta which can be national school, bilingual national schools, and international schools. International schools in Jakarta are a preferred choice for expat parents.
Finding the best school for their child can be a challenge for most parents. In Jakarta, there’s been a rise in number of international schools for the past years. These schools offer quality education and facilities for students.
Jakarta has a wide range of excellent international schools for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Primary, and Secondary schooling. Each offer different curricula and good options for after school activities. International schools’ main medium of instruction is English.
In general, children in Indonesia aged 6 years old to 11 attend primary school. This is also called Sekolah Dasar. To date, most elementary schools in Indonesia are operated by the government, and are public schools.
Public schools in Indonesia follow the national curriculum, which is based on the 5 principles of Pancasila— belief in one God, humanitarianism, national unity, democracy, and social justice. Other international schools have their own curriculum such as American, CBSE, and others.
It is mandatory for Indonesians to attend 12 years of school. Students must attend school for six days a week. Non-sectarian public schools are governed by the Ministry of National Education. Meanwhile, private or semi-private religious schools are governed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. There are 15 % of Muslim students in Indonesia who attend religious schools.
According to World Bank data, most Indonesians complete primary school at an astonishing rate of 00%. There are also private Muslim and Christian elementary and secondary schools, universities and institutes in Jakarta. Middle class families often enroll their children in private schools.
In Indonesia, most school children wear uniforms with classes beginning on July. The first semester starts in July and ends in December. The second semester starts in January and ends in June. Duration of class will usually be from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm (half day) and from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm. In primary school, Bahasa is used as medium of instruction. Public school Teachers follow a standard teaching technique, emotionally distancing themselves from students.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian local schooling system is comprised of two types: national schools and national plus schools.
National schools in Indonesia follow the Indonesian curriculum and are governed by the local government. Bahasa is the medium of instruction among national schools in Indonesia.
National plus schools in Indonesia is a combination of local curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB). Compared to national schools in Indonesia, national plus schools use English as medium of instruction.
Most local Indonesian students prefer national schools because school fees are more affordable compared to international schools.
Some Muslims in Indonesia enroll their children in pesantren (Islamic boarding school) or Islamic school. These schools are governed by Muslim scholars. Students will understand the Quran, the Arabic language, Muslim traditions,sharia, and history of Islam.
Below are the typical age groups of students in Indonesia:
| Grade/Level | School Age |
|---|---|
| Pre-school playgroup | 3-4 |
| Kindergarten | 4-6 |
| 1st Grade | 6–7 |
| 2nd Grade | 7–8 |
| 3rd Grade | 8–9 |
| 4th Grade | 9–10 |
| 5th Grade | 10–11 |
| 6th Grade | 11–12 |
| 7th Grade | 12-13 |
| 8th Grade | 13-14 |
| 9th Grade | 14-15 |
| 10th Grade | 15–16 |
| 11th Grade | 16–17 |
| 12th Grade | 17–18 |
The curriculum generally consists of the following core subjects: Religion, Pancasila and civics, Mathematics, English, Biology, Social Sciences, Geography, Physics, Natural Sciences, Language (Indonesian language), Home Economics, and Physical education.
Edarabia showcases all private schools in Jakarta through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.
Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Jakarta tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.
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