Principles and General Objectives of Education

According to Law No. 2/1989, the objectives of the national education system are: firstly, to establish a high-quality and self-reliant human being whose values are based on Pancasila (i.e. State ideology, spelled out in the five basic principles of the Republic of Indonesia: belief in one God; just and civilized humanity, including tolerance to all people; unity of Indonesia; democracy led by wisdom of deliberation among representatives of the people; and social justice for all); secondly, to support the Indonesian society, people and State. In the broad context of social and national development, the aim of education is, on the one hand, to keep and maintain Indonesia’s cultural background and, on the other, to generate the knowledge, skills and scientific progress that will keep the nation abreast in the twenty-first century. National education should improve the life of the nation and develop the Indonesian people fully—i.e. intellectually, morally, spiritually, physically and socially.

The education system provides learning opportunities to every citizen, irrespective of gender, religion, ethnic, social or economic background. Education is developed on the basis of four main strategies: the improvement of opportunity, quality, efficiency, and relevance to development needs. It is carried out in a universal, sound and consolidated manner. The education system provides basic education for every citizen to enable him/her to write, read and count, as well as use Bahasa Indonesia, which is required for participation in the society, civil and State life. The learning and teaching climate has to generate self-confidence, innovative thinking, and orientation towards the future. Education can be obtained either through in-school or out-of-school channels and is the mutual responsibility of the family, the community and the government.