Goal of Education; National education is an effort to make the Indonesian people aware of the possibilities to sustain their lives and lifestyles and to continuously develop themselves from one generation to the next. The national education system is to be carried out in a universal (open to every citizen), sound (covering all units, channels, types and levels of education) and consolidated (national education is interconnected with national development) manner.

The Education System; The system is organized into formal (in-school) and non-formal (out of school) education, consisting of: basic education, senior secondary education and higher education. Formal education is organized in schools through teaching and learning activities which are gradual, hierarchical, and continuous. Non-formal education is organized outside the formal schooling system. Basic education is compulsory and provides learners with basic knowledge and skills in a nine-year academic cycle -- six years of primary and three years of junior secondary school. Senior secondary education consists of general, vocational, religious, service, and special secondary schooling, while higher education consists of academic and professional education.

The Structure of School System in Indonesia; Based on the National Education Law No. 2 of 1989, the structure of school system consists of basic education (normally completed from the age of 7 to 15), secondary education (from the age of 16 to 18), and higher education. Pre-school education is not officially included as part of the national education system.

1.      Basic education (BE) is a general, compulsory education of nine years, i.e., six years of Primary School (Sekolah Dasar) plus three years of Junior Secondary School (Sekolah Lanjutan Tingkat Pertama). Basic education is aimed at developing students' lives as individuals, members of society and citizens of the nation, as well as preparing them for senior secondary education.

2.     Senior Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Umum) is available to graduates of BE in five different paths of education, i.e., general, vocational, religious, service related, and special senior secondary education. Senior secondary schools gives priority to expanding knowledge and developing students?skills and preparing them to continue their study to a higher level of education (for General Senior Secondary Schools); specific occupational skills with special emphasis on preparing students for the world of work, (Vocational Senior Secondary Schools); mastery of special religious knowledge of the students (Religious Secondary Schools); the ability to execute tasks as candidates for the civil service (Service Related Senior Secondary Schools); and basic knowledge and skills for the physically and/or mentally disabled students (Special Senior Secondary Schools).

3.     Higher Education is an extension of senior secondary education that consists of academic and professional education. Academic education is mainly aimed at mastering science, technology, and research, whereas professional education is more at developing practical skills.