Overview of Education in Indonesia

This chapter presents an overview of the Indonesian education system by considering its historical, socio-political, and economic background. In a global knowledge economy where Indonesia is actively participating, education is the engine of development to innovate economic values and sustain economic growth through knowledge. Several significant reforms in education are made to expedite the role of education in developing human capital and thus boosting the nation’s competitiveness. With a sizeable educational infrastructure to cater to a vast population’s needs, Indonesia’s main challenge regarding education is improving quality. The root of the problem is a matter of politics and power which may manifest in the dominance of administrative-bureaucratic control over educational institutions.