Homeschooling in Indonesia
Homeschooling is legal in Indonesia. The 2003 national education law recognises learning at home as informal education, and a 2014 ministry regulation sets out how families run it and register it.
This guide covers the rules, how homeschooled students earn a Paket certificate through a PKBM, the new Academic Ability Test, Cambridge exams in Jakarta, costs, and the routes to university in Indonesia and abroad.
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- Legal under the 2003 Sisdiknas law
- Family homeschools register with the local education office
- Paket A, B and C certificates through a PKBM
- Cambridge exams at the British Council in Jakarta
Is homeschooling legal in Indonesia?
Yes. Indonesian law treats education by the family as one of three recognised pathways, alongside formal schools and non-formal education.
| Law or regulation | What it says |
|---|---|
| UU No. 20/2003 (Sisdiknas), article 13 | Education runs through three pathways: formal, non-formal and informal |
| Sisdiknas, article 27 | Informal education by families and the community takes the form of independent learning, and its results count as equal to formal and non-formal education once the learner passes an assessment against national standards |
| Sisdiknas, article 6 | Every citizen aged 7 to 15 must take part in basic education |
| Permendikbud No. 129/2014 (Sekolahrumah) | Homeschooling can be single-family (tunggal), multi-family (majemuk) or community-based (komunitas). Single-family and multi-family homeschools must register with the district or city education office (Dinas Pendidikan) |
| Permendikdasmen No. 9/2025 (TKA) | The national Academic Ability Test is open to students on the formal, non-formal and informal pathways, including homeschooled students (murid sekolahrumah) |
To register a single-family homeschool, parents give the education office identity documents for themselves and their child, and a signed statement that they are responsible for the child's education. They also provide a written learning programme and, if the child is 13 or older, the child's own statement agreeing to learn at home. The regulation says the curriculum should refer to the national curriculum.
Many homeschooling families report that office registration is rarely enforced. In practice, what matters is enrolling the child at a PKBM (community learning centre), which records them as a learner and issues the Paket certificate.
The duty to take part in basic education applies to Indonesian citizens. Foreign families living in Indonesia aren't covered by it, and many use international schools, known in law as SPK schools, or online schools based abroad.
How homeschooled students earn recognised certificates
Indonesian certificates come through a PKBM or SKB. International qualifications are sat as a private candidate at an exam centre.
| Route | Awarded by | How it works | Used for | At CambriLearn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paket A, B and C | The PKBM or SKB where the student is registered | Register as a learner, follow the national curriculum and pass the centre's assessment | Equal to SD, SMP and SMA, with Paket C used for university entry | Not offered |
| Academic Ability Test (TKA) | Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education | A national computer-based test, entered through the student's PKBM or SKB | Standardised results for selection, including SNBP | Not offered |
| Cambridge International GCSE, AS and A Level | Cambridge International | Sat as a private candidate at the British Council Indonesia Foundation or another centre that accepts private candidates | Universities abroad, and Indonesian universities after equalisation | Taught on the International British Curriculum |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and A Level | Pearson Edexcel | Sat as a private candidate at a Pearson centre that accepts them | Universities abroad, and Indonesian universities after equalisation | Taught on the Pearson Edexcel pathway |
| American High School Diploma | Score Academy Online, a Cognia-accredited school | Enrol with the school and complete coursework assessed online | US colleges, and Indonesian universities after equalisation | Through sister school Score Academy Online on the US K-12 pathway |
Paket A is equivalent to primary school (SD), Paket B to junior high (SMP) and Paket C to senior high (SMA). The PKBM or SKB where the learner is registered decides whether they have passed and issues the ijazah.
The TKA, first held in 2025, is open to homeschooled students through their PKBM or SKB. The ministry describes it as optional and not a graduation test. It also says one aim of the TKA is to give students outside formal schools access to recognition of their learning, and state universities use it to check report cards in SNBP.
The British Council Indonesia Foundation in Jakarta enters private candidates for Cambridge International GCSE, AS and A Level exams. For Pearson Edexcel, confirm a centre that accepts private candidates before your child starts a course.
How much does homeschooling cost in Indonesia?
The costs are PKBM fees, exam entries and any tuition or school you use.
See every fee on the pricing pageEach PKBM sets its own fees for registering learners and running assessments, so compare a few before you choose one. The TKA itself is free. Cambridge exam fees are set by the British Council Indonesia Foundation or whichever centre you enter through.
CambriLearn sets its International GCSE and A Level fees per subject in US dollars, so a student can take a full set of subjects or add one or two alongside a Paket programme.
| Level and package | Per subject, per year | Per subject, per month (10 instalments) | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|
| International GCSE, Standard | $565 | $66.67 | $2,825 for 5 subjects |
| International GCSE, Premium | $1,115 | $131.57 | $5,575 for 5 subjects |
| AS or A Level, Standard | $605 | $71.39 | $1,815 for 3 subjects |
| AS or A Level, Premium | $1,300 | $153.40 | $3,900 for 3 subjects |
Paying for the year upfront costs 15.25% less than ten instalments. A once-off registration fee applies to new enrolments. Textbooks aren't included, and exam entries are paid to the exam centre. CambriCommunity clubs, events and meetups come with every enrolment.
Per year figures are the 2026 fees paid upfront, and monthly figures are the same fees paid in ten instalments. Primary, Lower Secondary and US K-12 fees, and the few subjects priced separately, are on the pricing page.
Can homeschooled students go to university in Indonesia?
Yes. Paket C opens the national admissions route, and qualifications from abroad need equalising first.
SNPMB 2026 rulesPaket C and SNBT
Paket C graduates from the last three years, aged 25 or under, can sit the UTBK and apply through SNBT, the national test-based route into state universities. SNBP, the report-card route, is for final-year students at schools.
Qualifications from abroad
Indonesian applicants with a secondary qualification from outside the national system need their ijazah equalised (disetarakan) by the education ministry before they can apply through SNBT. International programmes and private universities set their own entry rules for A Levels.
Foreign students
SNBT is open only to Indonesian citizens with a national identity number (NIK), so foreign students apply to universities directly or through their international programmes.
Universities abroad
UK universities accept International GCSEs and A Levels through UCAS, and the American High School Diploma from Score Academy Online supports applications to US colleges.
Questions parents ask about homeschooling in Indonesia
If your question isn't here, a consultant can take you through your options in a fifteen-minute call.
Book a free consultationIs homeschooling legal in Indonesia?
Yes. The 2003 national education law recognises education by the family as informal education, and its results count as equal to formal schooling once the learner passes an assessment against national standards. Permendikbud No. 129/2014 sets out how homeschooling works.
Do I need to register to homeschool in Indonesia?
Under Permendikbud No. 129/2014, single-family and multi-family homeschools must register with the district or city education office. Many families report that this is rarely enforced, but a Paket certificate needs registration as a learner at a PKBM or SKB.
What are Paket A, B and C?
They are equivalency certificates at primary (SD), junior high (SMP) and senior high (SMA) level. Homeschooled students earn them by registering at a PKBM or SKB, which assesses them and issues the ijazah.
What is the TKA and do homeschooled students need it?
The Academic Ability Test is a national test first held in 2025, open to homeschooled students through their PKBM or SKB. The ministry describes it as optional and not a graduation test, but state universities use it in SNBP selection.
Can homeschooled students go to state universities in Indonesia?
Yes. Paket C graduates from the last three years, aged 25 or under, can sit the UTBK and apply through SNBT. SNBP, which uses school report cards, is for final-year school students.
Can expat children homeschool in Indonesia?
Indonesia's duty to take part in basic education applies to Indonesian citizens, so the law doesn't set out rules for foreign families teaching children at home. Many expatriate families use international schools or online schools based abroad.
Where do homeschooled students sit Cambridge exams in Indonesia?
The British Council Indonesia Foundation in Jakarta enters private candidates for Cambridge International GCSE, AS and A Level exams. Other centres may accept private candidates, so confirm one before your child starts a course.
Is the Sisdiknas law changing?
A new national education bill is going through parliament. In July 2026 the DPR's Commission X agreed a draft that extends compulsory education to 13 years, starting with a year of early childhood education, and it now goes to the Legislation Body for harmonisation.
How much does homeschooling cost in Indonesia?
PKBMs set their own fees, and the TKA is free. At CambriLearn, International GCSE subjects on the Standard package cost $565 a year each when paid upfront, and exam entries are paid to the exam centre.
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This guide summarises UU No. 20/2003 on the National Education System, Permendikbud No. 129/2014 on homeschooling, Permendikdasmen No. 9/2025 on the Academic Ability Test and the SNPMB 2026 admission rules. It is general information rather than legal advice, and local practice varies, so check with your district education office or PKBM before you rely on a route. Last checked 25 September 2026. CambriLearn is Cognia-accredited and an approved Pearson Edexcel centre. The US K-12 pathway is delivered through sister school Score Academy Online, which is Cognia-accredited and offers NCAA-approved courses. CambriLearn is not a registered Cambridge school and is not affiliated with Cambridge Assessment International Education.