If you visited an Indonesian school a decade ago, you would have seen rows of silent students memorizing facts for a do-or-die National Exam. That system changed dramatically in 2020 with the launch of the (Freedom to Learn) policy by former Minister Nadiem Makarim.
Post-COVID, Indonesia leapfrogged into digital learning. The government launched (Home of Learning) portal with digital textbooks and simulations. In wealthy districts, you see smartboards and Google Classroom. However, the disparitas digital (digital divide) is cruel: 40% of students in NTT still have no smartphone.
Extracurriculars are very popular and often required for graduation or university entrance portfolios.
Students wear iconic standardized uniforms based on their level: red and white for SD, blue and white for SMP, and gray and white for SMA. School Hours:
