This page compares the education systems of Finland and Indonesia.
Education System Overview
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Predominantly publicly funded provision with a small non-state sector; administration is decentralized, with municipalities responsible for local education services while national legislation and curricula establish common requirements. Private education providers operate under statutory authorization and supervision. [EDUFI] | 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 | The Ministry of Education and Culture oversees national education policy, legislation and funding arrangements, while the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) develops national core curricula, qualification requirements and education services. Municipalities and other authorized providers organize education locally. [EDUFI] | 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) | 5.2% of GDP in 2023, representing government expenditure on primary through tertiary educational institutions under the OECD's initial-funds measure. Private expenditure on these institutions accounted for another 0.1% of GDP. Under the broader OECD measure including government expenditure both inside and outside educational institutions, Finland spent 5.5% of GDP in 2023, compared with an OECD average of 4.2%. Government expenditure per student from primary through tertiary education averaged USD 15,533 in purchasing-power-parity terms. These expenditure measures have different coverage and should not be treated as interchangeable. [OECD] | 1.3% of GDP in 2023, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Compulsory education covers approximately ages 6–18. It begins with one year of compulsory pre-primary education at age 6, followed by nine-year basic education beginning around age 7. After basic education, students continue into general upper secondary, vocational or qualifying preparatory education. The obligation ends when the learner turns 18 or completes an upper secondary qualification earlier. [EDUFI] | 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) | Up to approximately 12 years, normally from age 6 until age 18. This includes one year of pre-primary education, nine years of basic education and continued study toward an upper secondary qualification. Compulsory education may end earlier if the student completes a qualifying upper secondary programme before turning 18. The extension to age 18 took effect in 2021. [Finnish Government] | 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 | Early childhood education and care before age 6 is optional, while one year of pre-primary education at age 6 is compulsory. In 2024, approximately 92% of children from age 3 up to the start of primary education participated in early childhood education and care, compared with an OECD average of 90%. Among two-year-olds, participation in programmes meeting the OECD's early childhood education criteria reached 77%. Municipal early childhood education services include day care centres, family day care and pre-primary provision. [OECD] | ECE remains outside the established nine-year statutory requirement, while the 13-year policy prioritizes one preschool year before primary school. Indonesia’s PAUD Directorate reported a 36.19% gross PAUD participation rate for 2025. Its national reporting notes that some nonformal services, including playgroups and childcare centers, are not fully captured in this measure. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 1 + 6 + 3 + approximately 3: one year of compulsory pre-primary education, six years of primary education (grades 1–6), three years of lower secondary education (grades 7–9) and approximately three years of general or vocational upper secondary education. Basic education itself lasts nine years and is generally provided as a unified comprehensive-school system (peruskoulu). General upper secondary education normally leads to the matriculation examination, while vocational education leads to competence-based qualifications. [EDUFI] | 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 (%) | Among students completing grade 9 in 2025, approximately 40% continued into vocational education, 53% into general upper secondary education and 7% into preparatory education. These percentages describe immediate transitions rather than the composition of all students enrolled in upper secondary programmes. Statistics Finland recorded 114,690 general upper secondary students and 324,201 vocational education students during 2025, but the vocational total also includes further and specialist vocational qualifications taken by adults. These enrollment totals therefore cannot be used directly to calculate a general-versus-vocational split for upper-secondary-age students. [Statistics Finland] [Statistics Finland] | Approximately 41.9% vocational / 58.1% general or religious general in 2024/25, based on 5,066,661 SMK students among 12,082,698 upper-secondary students across SMA, SMK and MA pathways. This classification includes madrasah aliyah in the general group. [Kemendikdasmen] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August. In the 2026/27 school year, most Finnish primary and lower secondary schools began on 12 or 13 August 2026, with some municipalities starting earlier. Education providers determine the precise dates within national requirements. [EDUFI] | July, with exact dates set through provincial and local education calendars. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June. The 2026/27 primary and lower secondary school year ends on 5 June 2027. General upper secondary and vocational institutions may follow different schedules. [EDUFI] | June, with regional variation. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 38 weeks, based on the statutory school calendar and local holiday arrangements. The 2026/27 school year contains 189 working days for basic education. Schools normally have an autumn break, Christmas holiday and a winter holiday, with dates varying by municipality. [EDUFI] | Approximately 36 effective instructional weeks; the exact requirement varies by school level, regional calendar and program. |
| Instruction Days per Year | 189 working days in 2026/27. Finnish law establishes a base of 190 school working days, reduced when specified public holidays fall on qualifying weekdays. The statutory total applies to basic education, while other education levels may organize their calendars differently. [EDUFI] | — |
Grading System
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | Assessment is descriptive in the lower grades, with numerical assessment introduced by grade 4 at the latest. The national numerical scale is 4–10, where 10 represents excellent performance, 5 represents adequate performance and 4 represents failure. Continuous assessment and teacher evaluation are used throughout basic education; there are no national standardized examinations during comprehensive schooling. [EDUFI] | 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 | Commonly 0–5, with 5 representing excellent performance and 0 representing failure. Some courses use Pass/Fail assessments, and institutions establish grading criteria within their academic regulations. Higher education programmes use ECTS credits, normally 60 credits per full-time academic year. [University of Helsinki] | 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 | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Finnish and Swedish are Finland's two national languages and the principal languages of instruction. Approximately 90% of primary and lower secondary schools are Finnish-speaking and about 10% are Swedish-speaking under EDUFI's school-language classification. Municipalities provide education according to language rights and local arrangements. [EDUFI] | 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) | Sámi languages are used in education in relevant areas, particularly within the Sámi Homeland, where statutory language and education rights apply. Approved bilingual and foreign-language programmes may provide instruction partly or fully in languages such as English, French and German. From August 2026, authorized providers may also offer Finnish general upper secondary education in English for students meeting specific legal eligibility conditions. [EDUFI] [EDUFI] | 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 | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Comparative estimates place the public share at approximately 97% in basic education and 90% in upper secondary education. These are broad institutional-management estimates rather than figures from the latest 2025 national school-enrollment tables. Finland's education system is predominantly publicly funded, including many institutions operated by non-municipal education providers. [Education Profiles] | 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) | EUR 0 tuition for publicly provided pre-primary and basic education. Learning materials, school meals and specified pupil welfare and support services are also provided without charge. General and vocational upper secondary education is normally free for students covered by Finland's extended compulsory education arrangements. Separate tuition rules introduced in August 2026 apply to certain non-EU/EEA students entering upper secondary education on a study-based residence status. [EDUFI] [City of Helsinki] | IDR 0 standard tuition for compulsory basic education in government schools. Families may still face costs for transport, supplies or other school-related needs. A May 2025 Constitutional Court ruling also required public financing of compulsory basic education at eligible private schools and madrasahs; implementation across private providers remained incomplete in 2026. [Constitutional Court] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for arranging pre-primary and basic education for eligible residents and ensuring access to the required education services. Pupils are normally assigned a nearby school place, with transportation assistance available under statutory conditions. Upper secondary education is organized by municipalities, joint municipal authorities and other authorized providers. [EDUFI] | 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) | Comparative estimates place the private share at approximately 3% in basic education and 10% in upper secondary education, using a broad classification of non-state providers. These percentages do not represent enrollment in schools charging compulsory tuition. Many non-municipal providers receive public funding and operate under national education requirements. [Education Profiles] | Approximately 33.5% across primary through senior-secondary education in 2024/25, based on official student totals by school status. |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | The non-state school sector is small nationwide, with specialized and privately managed schools more visible in larger population centres, including the Helsinki metropolitan area. Private basic schools operate under national education rules and normally follow approved curricula. Their role is much smaller than that of municipal schools. | Nationwide, with substantial private, foundation and religious-school provision in densely populated and urban areas. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | No single official national total covers all international, bilingual, foreign-language and internationally accredited schools in Finland. Counts vary depending on whether schools offering foreign-language national curricula, International Baccalaureate programmes or the European Baccalaureate are included. The verified IB World School count is reported separately below. | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 18 IB World Schools currently offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme in Finland. The IB country directory lists 2 Primary Years Programme (PYP) providers, 3 Middle Years Programme (MYP) providers, 16 Diploma Programme (DP) providers and 2 Career-related Programme (CP) providers. Schools offering more than one programme are counted once in the national total. [IB] | 85 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Indonesia. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes, particularly the Diploma Programme, are offered at authorized Finnish schools. The European School of Helsinki provides the European Baccalaureate. Finland also has bilingual and foreign-language programmes following its national education system. English-language Finnish general upper secondary education, introduced at authorized providers in 2026, is a separate route from the IB Diploma Programme. [EDUFI] | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International, British, American, Australian, Singaporean and other school-specific international or bilingual curricula. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | Class teachers and subject teachers generally require a master's degree together with the prescribed professional and pedagogical studies. Class teacher qualifications normally include 60 ECTS of multidisciplinary primary teaching studies and 60 ECTS of teachers' pedagogical studies. Subject teachers must also satisfy the required studies in their teaching subjects. Qualification rules differ for early childhood and vocational education positions. [EDUFI] | 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 19 pupils in grades 1–6, according to the national teaching-group averages reported in EDUFI's Facts and Figures on Basic Education in Finland. This is a teaching-group measure rather than a student-to-teacher ratio. The figure should not be interpreted as a newly published 2026 classroom average. [EDUFI] | Approximately 21 students per class group in the latest nationally published comparable primary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Approximately 17 pupils in grades 7–9, according to the teaching-group averages in EDUFI's national basic education publication. Actual class and subject-group sizes depend on the municipality, school and teaching arrangements. [EDUFI] | Approximately 28 students per class group in the latest nationally published junior-secondary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | No single national class-size average is directly comparable across general and vocational upper secondary education. General upper secondary students follow individual subject selections, while vocational education uses competence-based and workplace-learning arrangements. Teaching-group sizes therefore vary by programme, subject and provider. | 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 | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. Finland has participated in every PISA cycle since the programme began in 2000. [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) | 507 / 520 / 522. [EDUFI] | 379 / 371 / 396. |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 484 / 490 / 511. [OECD] | 366 / 359 / 383. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 469 / 474 / 504. Finland remained above the OECD averages of 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading and 482 in science. Finland also scored 507 in computational problem solving, compared with the OECD average of 500. Computational problem solving is a separately assessed domain rather than part of the standard mathematics, reading and science comparison. [OECD] | 364 / 365 / 389. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | In 2025, Finland scored 15 points lower in mathematics and 16 points lower in reading than in 2022, while the approximately 7-point decline in science was not statistically clear. Compared with 2018, mathematics was 38 points lower, reading 46 points lower and science 18 points lower. Across all three subjects, 2025 performance was below the levels recorded in any assessment before 2022, continuing the longer-term decline observed since the mid-2000s. [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 — 504 points, followed by reading at 474 and mathematics at 469. In science, 81% of Finnish students reached at least proficiency Level 2, compared with 74% across the OECD, while 11% reached the highest proficiency levels, Level 5 or 6, compared with the OECD average of 7%. [OECD] | Science — 389 points. [Kemendikdasmen] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 35 institutions in Finland's main civilian higher education system: 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences. The National Defence University operates separately under the defence administration. In 2025, Statistics Finland recorded 177,471 students in university education and 183,239 in universities of applied sciences, giving a combined total of 360,710 degree students across these two sectors. [Study in Finland] [Statistics Finland] | 4,303 institutions in the 2025 national higher-education statistics. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 13 universities in the main civilian university sector, providing research-based bachelor's, master's and doctoral education. The National Defence University is a separate institution under the defence administration and is not included in this count. [Study in Finland] | 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 | 22 universities of applied sciences (ammattikorkeakoulut, UAS), providing professionally oriented bachelor's and master's degrees. UAS master's programmes generally require relevant professional work experience in addition to a suitable previous degree. [Study in Finland] | 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 and universities of applied sciences (UAS). Universities focus on academic research and research-based higher education, while UAS institutions emphasize applied education, professional skills and regional development. Both sectors provide bachelor's and master's degree programmes, but doctoral education is concentrated in universities. [Study in Finland] | Universities, institutes, Sekolah Tinggi, polytechnics, academies and community academies. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Predominantly publicly funded. Finland's universities and universities of applied sciences include institutions with different legal structures, including public-law universities, foundation universities and corporately organized UAS institutions. These ownership categories do not correspond directly to a public-versus-private tuition distinction. A single comparable nationwide enrollment percentage by ownership is not established here. | 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) | More than 600 English-taught bachelor's and master's degree programmes are available across Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. Programme availability and admissions schedules vary by institution and degree level. The national Studyinfo service provides individual programme listings and admission requirements. [Study in Finland] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | Finnish and Swedish remain the main languages of domestic higher education, particularly in programmes intended primarily for Finnish residents. English-taught degree provision is also available in both higher education sectors. A single verified nationwide percentage for programmes taught exclusively in Finnish or Swedish is not established from the institutional programme data. | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | No single verified nationwide percentage is available across all bachelor's and master's programmes under a consistent definition of English-language instruction. More than 600 English-taught degree programmes are offered, but that count should not be converted into a national percentage without a matching total for all programmes under the same coverage and reference year. [Study in Finland] | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027 is used for the selected comparison of Finnish universities in the top 100, top 500 and top 1000. [Study in Finland] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 0 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Finland's highest-ranked institutions are the University of Helsinki (#123) and Aalto University (#126). [Study in Finland] | 0 Indonesian universities in the global top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 6 in QS 2027: University of Helsinki (#123), Aalto University (#126), University of Oulu (#360), LUT University (#390), University of Turku (#398) and Tampere University (#436). [Study in Finland] | 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) | 9 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. In addition to the six institutions in the top 500, the list includes University of Jyväskylä (#521), University of Eastern Finland (#626) and Åbo Akademi University (#670). [Study in Finland] | 12 Indonesian universities in the global top 1000 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | FINEEC (Finnish Education Evaluation Centre) is the national external evaluation authority for higher education. It conducts institutional quality audits and other evaluations. Higher education institutions remain responsible for their internal quality assurance systems and degree delivery under Finnish legislation. [FINEEC] | 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) | 37,380 international full-degree students were enrolled in Finnish higher education institutions in 2024, according to the published EDUFI international degree mobility series. This count covers international students pursuing complete qualifications rather than temporary exchange students. Separately, approximately 15,000 international applicants received admission offers for degree programmes beginning in autumn 2026; these offers should not be interpreted as confirmed enrollments or added directly to the 2024 total. [EDUFI] [Study in Finland] | 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 10.7% of Finnish higher education students were international full-degree students in 2024, according to EDUFI's series. The OECD's internationally comparable measure placed inbound internationally mobile students at approximately 11% of tertiary enrollment in 2024, compared with an OECD average of 12%. The two measures have somewhat different definitions and should not be treated as identical. [EDUFI] [OECD] | Approximately 0.075%, based on 8,050 foreign students and 10,754,154 registered tertiary students in 2025. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 0 tuition for Finnish and EU/EEA students in regular bachelor's and master's degree programmes at Finnish higher education institutions. Students with other qualifying statuses may also be exempt. Degree programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish do not charge tuition, and doctoral programmes remain tuition-free regardless of nationality. Students may still face living costs and applicable student union or healthcare-related charges. [Study in Finland] | At Universitas Indonesia, regular undergraduate UKT tuition for 2026/27 ranges from IDR 1 million to IDR 28 million per academic year (IDR 500,000–14 million per semester), depending on the assigned contribution tier and program. Separate one-time institutional development fees may apply to certain admission routes. [Universitas Indonesia] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Typically EUR 9,000–20,000 annually for non-EU/EEA students in English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes, according to the current Study in Finland fee range. Individual programmes may charge more or less. Tuition liability depends on nationality, residence status and applicable exemptions; the rules also recognize certain other exempt groups. Finnish- and Swedish-taught degree programmes and doctoral education remain tuition-free. A separate EUR 100 application fee generally applies to non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants for bachelor's and master's studies. [Study in Finland] | Listed foreign-student undergraduate tuition at Universitas Gadjah Mada ranges from approximately IDR 30.2 million to IDR 134 million per academic year (IDR 15.1–67 million per semester), depending on the program. One-time institutional development fees may apply separately. [UGM] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | EUR 9,000–20,000 per year is the usual published range for tuition-paying non-EU/EEA students in English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes. Finnish and EU/EEA students, along with certain exempt residents, generally pay EUR 0 tuition. Universities and universities of applied sciences may offer scholarships or fee waivers, but their availability and conditions vary by programme. English-language instruction does not by itself determine whether a particular student must pay tuition. [Study in Finland] | Illustrative international-program tuition includes IDR 50–93 million per year for selected UGM international undergraduate programs (IDR 25–46.5 million per semester) and IDR 70 million per year for ITB international master’s programs outside its business school (IDR 35 million per semester). Program-specific charges, one-time fees and partner-university costs are additional. [UGM] [ITB] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | No standardized national monthly fee. Finnish and Swedish language courses are offered by adult education centres, universities, private language schools and other providers. Costs depend on course intensity, duration, provider and whether the learner qualifies for subsidized or publicly arranged language training. Courses are frequently priced by course or term rather than through a uniform monthly tuition rate. | Approximately IDR 3.2–3.7 million per four-week equivalent for UGM’s INCULS regular Indonesian-language program, based on a fee of IDR 13,692,300 for a 15–17-week semester. Additional activities may cost extra. [UGM] |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Finland | 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 | Finland | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Finland has a publicly funded, municipality-led education system in which national legislation and curricula establish common requirements across the country. Compulsory education covers approximately ages 6–18, beginning with one year of pre-primary education, followed by nine-year basic education and continued study toward a general or vocational upper secondary qualification. Public basic education is tuition-free and includes learning materials, school meals and specified support services. Finnish and Swedish are the main languages of instruction, with Sámi, bilingual and foreign-language education available under relevant arrangements. In 2025, Statistics Finland recorded 546,503 basic education pupils, 114,690 general upper secondary students and 324,201 vocational education students, including adult vocational learners. Among pupils completing grade 9, approximately 53% entered general upper secondary education and 40% entered vocational education. In PISA 2025, Finland scored 469 in mathematics, 474 in reading and 504 in science, remaining above OECD averages in all three domains. Mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while the science change was not statistically clear. Higher education comprises 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences, with 360,710 degree students in 2025. The IB country directory listed 18 IB World Schools. Finnish and EU/EEA students generally pay no bachelor's or master's tuition, while non-EU/EEA students in English-taught programmes typically face fees of EUR 9,000–20,000 annually, subject to exemptions. Recent changes include the revised learning-support system and classroom phone restrictions introduced in 2025, the opening of authorized English-language general upper secondary programmes in August 2026 and new upper secondary tuition requirements for certain third-country students. The first Finnish matriculation examination in English is scheduled for autumn 2028. [EDUFI] | 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 general and vocational pathways; vocational schools accounted for about 41.9% of upper-secondary enrollment in 2024/25. 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, the non-compulsory TKA assessment, and continued expansion of the 13-year education policy. |