This page compares the education systems of Singapore and Indonesia.
Education System Overview
| Category | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-led system; centralized governance under the Ministry of Education, with government, government-aided, autonomous, independent, specialized and private providers. [Singapore MOE] | 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 | Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore, which oversees national education policy, schools and publicly funded post-secondary institutions. [Singapore MOE] | 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) | 2.2% (2024). [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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | For Singapore Citizen children residing in Singapore, compulsory education applies from above age 6 until below age 15, with the legal obligation centered on primary education. [Singapore MOE] | 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) | 6 years of primary education, from Primary 1 to Primary 6. [Singapore MOE] | 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 | Optional; official early-childhood data reported preschool participation of about 9 in 10 children aged 3–4 in 2021, with participation higher at ages 5–6. [ECDA] | 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) | 6 + 4 for the typical primary-to-secondary route. Selected Integrated Programme pathways span six years across secondary and pre-university education. Under Full Subject-Based Banding, students take secondary subjects at G1, G2 or G3 levels rather than being placed in Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical) streams. [Singapore MOE] | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | January. [Singapore MOE] | July, with exact dates set through provincial and local education calendars. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | November. [Singapore MOE] | June, with regional variation. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 40 weeks, organized across four school terms. [Singapore MOE] | Approximately 36 effective instructional weeks; the exact requirement varies by school level, regional calendar and program. |
| Instruction Days per Year | — | — |
Grading System
| Category | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | PSLE subjects use Achievement Levels AL1–AL8. Secondary assessment varies by subject level under Full Subject-Based Banding; the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate will replace the separate N- and O-Level certificates from 2027. [Singapore MOE] | 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; for example, the National University of Singapore uses a 5.0 GPA scale, while grading systems may differ among other institutions. [NUS] | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | English is the main medium of instruction in national schools, apart from Mother Tongue Language subjects. [Singapore MOE] | 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) | Chinese, Malay and Tamil are the main Mother Tongue Languages taught in schools. [Singapore MOE] | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | — | 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 school fee for Singapore Citizens attending government and government-aided primary schools; fees at other levels and for non-citizens vary by school level and nationality. [Singapore MOE] | $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; government and government-aided schools operate across Singapore. [Singapore MOE] | 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) | — | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | — | 81 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Indonesia. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge/UK curricula, American curricula and French curricula are offered by different international schools. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International, British, American, Australian, Singaporean and other school-specific international or bilingual curricula. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | MOE teachers complete an approved initial teacher-preparation route through the National Institute of Education (NIE). Routes include the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) for degree holders and specified diploma or degree programmes for other teaching levels and subjects. [NIE] | 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) | 33.8 students per form class (2024). [Singapore MOE] | Approximately 21 students per class group in the latest nationally published comparable primary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Secondary 1: 33.6 students; Secondary 2: 33.4 students per form class (2024). [Singapore MOE] | Approximately 28 students per class group in the latest nationally published junior-secondary dataset. |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | Secondary 3: 34.2; Secondary 4: 32.9; Secondary 5: 13.7 students per form class (2024). [Singapore MOE] | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 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) | 569 / 549 / 551 [OECD] | 379 / 371 / 396. |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 575 / 543 / 561 [OECD] | 366 / 359 / 383. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 563 / 535 / 560 [OECD] | 364 / 365 / 389. [Kemendikdasmen] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Singapore first participated in 2009. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and reading performance was lower, while science performance was about the same. Over the longer period, science performance increased, while mathematics and reading remained relatively stable despite the recent declines. [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) | Mathematics — 563 points. [OECD] | Science — 389 points. [Kemendikdasmen] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | — | 4,303 institutions in the 2025 national higher-education statistics. [Kemdiktisaintek] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 6 publicly funded Autonomous Universities: National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Social Sciences. Singapore also has the Government-supported private University of the Arts Singapore. [Singapore MOE] | 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 | 5 polytechnics: Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic. [Singapore MOE] | 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 | Autonomous Universities; University of the Arts Singapore and its constituent arts institutions; polytechnics; Institute of Technical Education (ITE); and private education institutions. [Singapore MOE] | 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) | 2 — National University of Singapore (#10) and Nanyang Technological University (#12) in QS 2027. [QS] | 0 Indonesian universities in the global top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 4 — National University of Singapore (#10), Nanyang Technological University (#12), Singapore University of Technology and Design (#266) and Singapore Management University (#=411) in QS 2027. [QS] | 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) | 4 in QS 2027. [QS] | 12 Indonesian universities in the global top 1000 of the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | — | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | For 2026 entrants, subsidized common undergraduate programmes at NTU cost Singapore Citizens about $6,550 USD annually based on the published S$8,300 fee; programme-specific fees may be higher. [NTU] | 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) | At NTU for 2026 entrants, subsidized common undergraduate programmes cost about $14,240 USD annually for ASEAN international students and $16,890 USD for other international students; published non-subsidized common-program fees are higher. [NTU] | 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 | Singapore | 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 | Singapore | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Singapore operates a centrally governed education system under the Ministry of Education, with government and government-aided schools forming the main public network alongside autonomous, independent, specialized and private providers. Compulsory education applies to Singapore Citizen children residing in the country and centers on the six-year primary cycle. Students typically progress from six years of primary school to four years of secondary education. Full Subject-Based Banding, implemented across secondary schools from the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, allows students to take subjects at G1, G2 or G3 levels instead of being assigned to the former Express or Normal streams. English is the main medium of instruction, while Chinese, Malay and Tamil are taught as Mother Tongue Languages. In PISA 2025, Singapore scored 563 in mathematics, 535 in reading and 560 in science, with mathematics its highest-scoring core domain. Post-secondary routes include junior colleges, Millennia Institute, five polytechnics, ITE, six publicly funded Autonomous Universities and the University of the Arts Singapore. Recent changes include the removal of mid-year examinations across primary, secondary and junior college levels from 2025, expanded targeted support across 157 schools in 2026 and completion of the transition of Nitec courses to the three-year Higher Nitec structure by Academic Year 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. |