Indonesia's Failing Education System | Full Case Study

Summary

Indonesia, with the fourth largest education system globally, faces significant challenges despite high enrollment rates. The country has a rich history of education that evolved post-independence, particularly during the New Order regime, which saw a surge in school construction. Currently, while the government mandates 12 years of education, issues like teacher absenteeism, insufficient funding, an outdated curriculum, and high-stakes examinations hinder quality learning. Recent reforms aim to transform assessments and curricula, promoting critical thinking and real-world applications. The future of Indonesian education hinges on these changes to provide all children with quality, equitable education.

Takeaways

• 📚 Indonesia has the fourth largest education system globally, with over 50 million students, 3 million teachers, and over 300,000 schools.
• ⏳ The Indonesian education system has faced criticism for its quality, despite increasing enrollment numbers.
• 🇮🇩 Indonesia gained independence in 1945, which prompted the establishment of its own education system to foster a national identity.
• 🔄 The New Order regime (1966-1998) significantly expanded school construction, doubling the number of schools and increasing enrollment rates.
• 🏫 Currently, Indonesia follows a 12-year compulsory education system, divided into 6 years of elementary, 3 years of lower secondary, and 3 years of upper secondary education.
• 🕌 A significant portion of education in Indonesia is overseen by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which has drawn international criticism for potential links to radicalism.
• 📈 Enrollment in primary schools is nearly 97%, while secondary school enrollment stands at 82%, highlighting increased access to education.
• 📝 Despite high enrollment rates, Indonesian students score poorly in assessments, indicating quality issues in education.
• 💰 The education system suffers from insufficient funding, often falling short of the promised 20% allocation from the national budget.
• 🚀 Recent reforms under the new Minister of Education aim to improve the system through competency-based assessments and a flexible curriculum to enhance learning outcomes.

Q & A

What is the current status of Indonesia's education system in terms of size?

Indonesia has the fourth largest education system in the world, with over 50 million students, 3 million teachers, and 300,000 schools.

How has Indonesia's education system changed since gaining independence?

After gaining independence in 1945, Indonesia established its own education system to foster nationalism and decolonize the colonial mindset, which underwent significant expansion during the New Order regime from 1966 to 1998.

What major achievements occurred during the New Order regime regarding education?

The New Order regime accomplished rapid school construction, building over 61,000 schools from 1973 to 1978, which doubled the number of schools at that time and increased enrollment rates from 69% in 1973 to 83% by 1985.

What are the compulsory education requirements in Indonesia?

All children in Indonesia are required to complete 12 years of compulsory education, following a 633 model: six years of elementary education, three years of lower secondary, and three years of upper secondary.

What role does the Ministry of Religious Affairs play in Indonesia's education system?

Due to the fact that 88% of the population practices Islam, the Ministry of Religious Affairs supervises all religious schools, which is criticized by some countries for potentially promoting radicalism.

What are the four main challenges facing Indonesia's education system?

The challenges include teacher quality (high absenteeism and low test scores), insufficient funding (government budget allocations often fall short), an outdated curriculum focused on rote learning, and an emphasis on standardized assessments that may promote memorization over critical thinking.

What recent changes have been made in the assessment approach within Indonesia's education system?

National examinations have been removed to introduce competency-based assessments that focus on character development and basic literacy rather than rote memorization.

How is the curriculum being reformed in Indonesia's education system?

A new flexible curriculum has been introduced, allowing teachers and students the freedom to engage in learning and encouraging creativity and critical thinking.

What is the Campus Mad Deca program and its significance?

The Campus Mad Deca program prepares university students for leadership roles by allowing them to collaborate freely and engage with industry experts, thereby bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world applications.

What is the speaker's overall perspective on the future of Indonesia's education system?

The speaker believes that while Indonesia has made progress in expanding access to education, significant improvements in quality are necessary. They express optimism about the potential for reforms under the new leadership but emphasize the need to focus on foundational issues like funding and teacher engagement.