This page compares the education systems of Canada and Indonesia.
Education System Overview
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public/private mix; governance is highly decentralized. Canada has no federal ministry of education; the 10 provinces and 3 territories have jurisdiction over their education systems. [CMEC] | Mixed public/private system with decentralized school delivery. National ministries establish curriculum, standards and policy, while provincial and district governments manage much of public-school provision. Religious and private providers operate alongside the state sector. |
| Governing Body | Provincial and territorial ministries/departments of education; pan-Canadian coordination is carried out through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). Local school boards, districts, divisions or education councils perform functions delegated by their jurisdiction. [CMEC] | Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) for general school education; Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) for the madrasah system; and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) for higher education. |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 4.8% (2022, latest available value). [World Bank] | 1.3% of GDP in 2023, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Varies by province and territory. Most jurisdictions require attendance from age 6 to 16; some begin at age 5, while New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut require attendance to age 18 or high-school graduation. [Statistics Canada] | The established statutory basic-education requirement covers approximately ages 7–15. National policy is expanding access toward 13 years of education, including one preschool year and education through senior secondary level. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | Typically 10 years where compulsory attendance runs from age 6 to 16; the duration is longer in jurisdictions that begin earlier or require attendance to age 18 or graduation. [Statistics Canada] | 9 years under the established statutory basic-education requirement. The government's 13-year education policy extends the policy target to one year of preschool, six years of primary, three years of junior secondary and three years of senior secondary education. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Kindergarten is available in every province and territory and is optional in most jurisdictions. 97% of children of eligible age attend Kindergarten. Provision for younger children varies by jurisdiction. [CMEC] | ECE remains outside the established nine-year statutory requirement, while the 13-year policy prioritizes one preschool year before primary school. Gross PAUD participation was approximately 36.2% in 2025; this indicator covers the broader PAUD population rather than only children aged 3–5. |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | Most jurisdictions provide 12 years from Grades 1–12, with elementary schooling covering roughly the first 6–8 years depending on jurisdiction. Quebec has 6 years of elementary school followed by 5 years of secondary school. [Statistics Canada] | 6 + 3 + 3: six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education and three years of general or vocational senior secondary education. Some vocational programs operate for four years. |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | — | Approximately 33.5% vocational / 66.5% general, based on 2024/25 upper-secondary enrollment across vocational and general/religious pathways. |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | September | July, with exact dates set through provincial and local education calendars. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June | June, with regional variation. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | — | Approximately 36 effective instructional weeks; the exact requirement varies by school level, regional calendar and program. |
| Instruction Days per Year | — | — |
Grading System
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | No single national scale. Grading is determined provincially, territorially and locally; percentage grades, letter grades and standards-based achievement levels are used depending on the jurisdiction and school level. | No single mandatory national A–F or fixed numerical passing scale. Schools use learning-achievement criteria, including KKTP, with numerical results, descriptors, rubrics and competency evidence used according to school and subject assessment arrangements. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Institution-specific; percentage grades, letter grades and GPA scales are used, with the precise conversion and maximum GPA varying by institution. | Institution-specific. A 4.00 GPA scale with letter grades is widely used; individual universities determine grade boundaries and intermediate grades. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | English and French. Publicly funded minority-language education rights are protected under the Canadian Charter, with French-language school systems outside Quebec and English-language provision in Quebec subject to applicable eligibility rules. [CMEC] | Bahasa Indonesia is the principal national language of instruction. Regional languages may support instruction in early education where appropriate. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Indigenous languages, including languages such as Inuktitut, Cree and others, are used in some regional, territorial and Indigenous education programs; provision varies by jurisdiction and community. | Regional and local languages may be used as supporting instructional languages. English is primarily taught as a foreign language and is scheduled to become a compulsory primary-school subject from the 2027/28 academic year. [Kemendikdasmen] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 91.3% of elementary-secondary enrolments were in public schools in 2022/23. [Statistics Canada] | Approximately 66.5% across primary through senior-secondary education in 2024/25, based on official enrollment totals by school status. Public-school shares differ considerably by education level. |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet applicable age and residence requirements through the end of public secondary education. [Statistics Canada] | $0 tuition for compulsory basic education in government schools. Families may still face permitted ancillary costs or locally administered charges outside standard tuition. |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes; publicly funded elementary and secondary education operates in all provinces and territories, subject to each jurisdiction's age, residence and enrollment rules. [CMEC] | Yes. Public primary and secondary schools operate across Indonesia's provinces and districts, complemented by the public religious-school network. |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 7.7% of elementary-secondary enrolments were in private schools in 2022/23; another 0.9% were homeschooled. [Statistics Canada] | Approximately 33.5% across primary through senior-secondary education in 2024/25, based on official student totals by school status. |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | — | Nationwide, with substantial private, foundation and religious-school provision in densely populated and urban areas. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 374 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Canada. [IB] | 81 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Indonesia. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP); additional international curricula are school-specific. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International, British, American, Australian, Singaporean and other school-specific international or bilingual curricula. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | Teachers must meet the academic and teacher-education requirements of the relevant province or territory and obtain provincial or territorial certification, registration or a teaching licence. Teaching is regulated throughout Canada, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. [CICIC] | A minimum academic qualification of S-1 bachelor's degree or D-IV applied bachelor's level is the national professional benchmark, alongside teacher-certification requirements for eligible professional teachers. |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | — | Approximately 21 students per class group in the latest nationally published comparable primary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | — | Approximately 28 students per class group in the latest nationally published junior-secondary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | Approximately 30 students overall as an indicative upper-secondary figure; general senior-secondary classes average about 32 students while vocational classes are closer to 27. |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. Indonesia's first assessment was conducted in 2001 through the PISA 2000 Plus administration. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 512 / 520 / 518 [OECD] | 379 / 371 / 396. |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 497 / 507 / 515 [OECD] | 366 / 359 / 383. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 485 / 490 / 510 [OECD] | 364 / 365 / 389. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Canada has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and reading performance was lower, while science was about the same. The 2025 results were the lowest observed for Canada in all three core domains and were below the corresponding 2015 results. [OECD] | Indonesia's raw scores changed from 366 / 359 / 383 in 2022 to 364 / 365 / 389 in 2025 for mathematics, reading and science respectively. OECD analysis finds the 2022–2025 changes statistically about the same in all three subjects. Results in 2025 remained below Indonesia's 2015 performance. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 510 points. [OECD] | Science — 389 points. [Kemendikdasmen] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | — | 4,303 institutions in the 2025 national higher-education statistics. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | — | 981 institutions classified as Universitas. Indonesia does not publish a separate statutory category specifically named “research universities.” [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | — | The 2025 statistics record 2,885 college/applied institution types: 2,000 Sekolah Tinggi, 389 polytechnics, 465 academies and 31 community academies. Indonesia does not use a single “university of applied sciences” category. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities, university colleges, public colleges, institutes, polytechnics, Quebec CEGEPs, Indigenous institutions and private career colleges. Degree-granting authority and institution classifications are determined provincially or territorially. [Statistics Canada] | Universities, institutes, Sekolah Tinggi, polytechnics, academies and community academies. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | Public/government-managed: approximately 50.3% | private-managed: approximately 49.7% of registered students in 2025. The official breakdown is 40.99% PTN, 7.17% public religious institutions and 2.18% government-service institutions versus 44.95% PTS and 4.71% private religious institutions. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 4 in QS 2027: McGill University (#30), University of Toronto (#32), University of British Columbia (#=45) and University of Alberta (#96). [QS] | 0 Indonesian universities in the global top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | — | 7 Indonesian universities in the global top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2027; Universitas Padjadjaran entered the top 500 at #496. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | — | 12 Indonesian universities in the global top 1000 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | No single national quality-assurance agency. Postsecondary authorization and quality assurance are handled through provincial and territorial governments, agencies and institution-specific processes. [CICIC] | BAN-PT (National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education), complemented by discipline-specific Independent Accreditation Agencies (LAM). Accreditation processes continued their transition to the SAPTO 2.0 system during 2026. [BAN-PT] |
| International Students (Total) | — | 8,050 foreign students were studying in Indonesian higher education institutions at the end of 2025. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | — | Approximately 0.07%, based on 8,050 foreign students and 10,754,154 registered tertiary students in 2025. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | For 2025/26, the national average at public degree-granting institutions was approximately $5,580 USD for Canadian undergraduate students and $5,750 USD for Canadian graduate students, converted from the published CAD averages using the Bank of Canada rate for 11 September 2026. [Statistics Canada] [Bank of Canada] | A representative 2026/27 regular undergraduate UKT range at Universitas Indonesia is approximately $57–$1,590 per year, converted from IDR 500,000–14,000,000 per semester. Fees vary by institution, program and assigned contribution tier, and some programs charge more. [Universitas Indonesia] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | For 2025/26, the national average at public degree-granting institutions was approximately $30,110 USD for international undergraduate students and $17,330 USD for international graduate students, converted from the published CAD averages using the Bank of Canada rate for 11 September 2026. [Statistics Canada] [Bank of Canada] | Indicative foreign-student bachelor's tuition at Universitas Gadjah Mada is approximately $2,840–$5,280 per year, converted from IDR 25–46.5 million per semester. One-time institutional development fees are additional and vary by program. [UGM] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | — | Indicative public-university international or English-medium programs are approximately $1,760–$5,280 per year in current ITB postgraduate and UGM international undergraduate examples, excluding one-time charges and partner-university costs. [ITB] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | Approximately $200–$225 per month equivalent for UGM's 2026 INCULS regular Indonesian-language program, based on IDR 13,692,300 for a 15–17 week semester. [UGM] |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Canada | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Canada has a decentralized education system in which the ten provinces and three territories hold responsibility for elementary, secondary and postsecondary education. There is no federal ministry of education, while CMEC supports cooperation across jurisdictions. Compulsory schooling rules vary: most jurisdictions require attendance from age 6 to 16, while some begin at 5 or continue to age 18 or secondary-school graduation. Most students attend publicly funded schools, which accounted for 91.3% of elementary-secondary enrolments in 2022/23. English and French are the main languages of instruction, with Indigenous-language education available in some communities and regional programs. Canada has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, it scored 485 in mathematics, 490 in reading and 510 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Postsecondary education includes universities, colleges, institutes, polytechnics and Quebec CEGEPs, with authorization and quality assurance managed provincially or territorially. Recent federal measures affecting education include changes to international study permits and post-graduation work eligibility, continued Canada-wide child-care agreements and legislation making the National School Food Program permanent in 2026. | Indonesia has a large public/private education system in which national ministries set curriculum and standards while provincial and district authorities manage much of school delivery. The standard structure consists of six years of primary, three years of junior secondary and three years of senior secondary education, with both general and vocational pathways. The statutory basic-education requirement remains nine years, while national policy is expanding access toward a 13-year model that includes one preschool year and education through senior secondary level. Public schools educate about two-thirds of primary and secondary students, alongside a large private and religious-school sector. Bahasa Indonesia is the main language of instruction. In PISA 2025, Indonesia scored 364 in mathematics, 365 in reading and 389 in science; OECD found no statistically clear change from 2022 in the three subjects. Higher education included 4,303 institutions and 10.75 million registered students in 2025. Current changes include deeper-learning approaches, optional Coding and AI subjects, TKA implementation and continued expansion of the 13-year education policy. |