Homeschooling in Indonesia

Is homeschooling legal in Indonesia?

Homeschooling is legal in Indonesia. It is regulated under the National Education System 2003 under the division of informal education, which gives parents the right to select how to educate their children. This enables children being homeschooled to take a national exam to obtain an “equivalent certificate”.

Is homeschooling better?

Homeschooling is becoming a trend in upper and middle class families with educated parents who have the capability to provide better tutoring.

The feeling among some Indonesian families is that the traditional Indonesian curriculum spoon feeds children massive volumes of knowledge. The traditional curriculum requires children to memorise large quantities of information without a clear understanding of what they are learning or developing analytical skills and critical thinking.

With only a few qualified teachers, the class sizes are large with an average of 40 learners per class. Homeschooling encourages children to explore and think beyond their comfort zone as well as develop practical skills and creativity. Here they are not judged simply by their grades on a quiz or a test that requires them to memorise the right information.

One of the main differences is that the Indonesian curriculum teaches children what to think, whereas the homeschooling approach is geared more towards how to think. At a glance, children from traditional schools may produce better academics with a better chance of continuing their education at prestige universities.

However, the focus is simply on memorising information, and not on understanding concepts, leaving them with limited critical thinking, analytical, and practical skills compared to children who are homeschooled, where programmes are a lot less rigid.

Many Indonesian parents choose to homeschool their children due to dissatisfaction with the formal school education system, boosting their children’s confidence and limiting social interaction in unhealthy schools. Many parents feel that homeschooling offers their children a more balanced outlook that focuses on their desires, interests, and talents, that is not found in traditional classrooms.

The families who are turning to homeschooling want a more flexible curriculum that allows their children to learn at their own pace.No curriculum is without its flaws and it is important for parents to find the best fit for their children. Weighing up the pros and cons to find a curriculum that will meet your child’s, and your family’s, needs, is crucial.

How does homeschooling work?

While students are able to self-pace and work independently a lot of the time, the teaching responsibility ultimately falls on the parents. This means it's the parents' job to make sure their children are on track with the state’s standards and that they are ready for graduation.

Homeschooling in Indonesia can be taken to mean one of four different things:

1. You pay a teacher(s) to come to your house and educate your children in your home.
2. You take your children to a building where a group of homeschooled children gather together to be taught by teachers chosen by the parents.
3. Your children are still young and, instead of putting them in playgroup, you connect with other parents of pre-school aged children to arrange for occasional play-dates.
4. The parents are the sole educators of their children.

How to start homeschooling

In May 2007 the Department of Education published a manual detailing the requirements for homeschooling in Indonesia. The manual details how homeschools should go about registering with the Department and requires that children are tested at certain levels. However, currently, there is no enforcement of these requirements.

Can homeschoolers go to college?

Homeschoolers are not automatically awarded high school diplomas, so entrance into university may be difficult. However, homeschoolers have the option to sit for a national exam where they can obtain an “equivalent certificate” which will allow them to apply to colleges in order to further their education.

Are homeschooled students more successful?

According to BusinessInsider.com research suggests that homeschooled children tend to do better on standardised tests, stay in college for longer and do better once they are enrolled. A 2009 study showed that the proportion of homeschoolers who graduated from college was about 67%, while among traditional school students it was 59%.

According to https://www.thinkimpact.com/homeschooling-statistics/homeschooled students perform much better than their counterparts in formal traditional schooling. Peer-reviewed studies indicate that 69% of homeschooled students succeed in college and adulthood.

There is more to success than academic achievement and, while these statistics indicate that homeschoolers fare better in an academic environment, it is also important to note that homeschoolers experience greater opportunities to develop in a more balanced, holistic way. Homeschoolers are given more space to think and learn creatively and explore analytically, which develops practical life skills which are just as, if not more important than academic achievement.

Homeschooling Cost in Indonesia

The cost of homeschooling will depend on the curriculum, platform, student level and the subjects you select. The Cambridge (or International British Curriculum) is the most popular homeschooling curriculum in Indonesia and the costs will be influenced by the following factors.

• Selected platform and its fees
• Textbooks
• Exam fees

The costing provided below is for illustrative purposes only, and will vary depending on the number of subjects, the examination venues, and the textbook formats you’ve elected to buy (digital copy vs. printed textbook). 

Primary stage homeschooling costs

Annual online homeschooling fees for primary stage students range between $639 and $1 839 per year for three subjects. Textbooks will cost between $100 and $200 and at this level there are no additional examination fees. 

Secondary stage and IGCSE homeschooling costs

Annual online homeschooling fees for lower secondary stage students range between $2 305 and $3 642 per year for six subjects. Textbooks will cost between $400 and $500 and there are no additional examination fees for Lower Secondary years 1 and 2. 

Annual online homeschooling fees for IGCSE students range between $2 486 and $4 968 per year for six subjects. Textbooks will cost between $300 and $400 and, depending on the examination centre, exam fees range between $1 000-$2 000 collectively.

AS Level homeschooling fees

Annual online homeschooling fees for A Level students range between $1 752 and $3 760 per year for four subjects. Textbooks will cost between $400 and $500 and, depending on the examination centre, the subject, and the exam type, exam fees range between $1 000-$2 000 collectively.