When looking at alternatives for national schools in Indonesia, the two main options are National Plus and SPK schools. While they might seem similar, the two different school types have stark differences in the way they operate. So, how does the education a child receives from an SPK school differ from National Plus schools?

Curriculum

SPK schools, collectively known in the country as international schools before 2015, offer internationally recognised and standardised curriculums, such as International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge International Examination (CIE). These curriculums are entirely different from the national curriculum set by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture that national schools use. International programs such as IB and CIE are recognised by top universities worldwide and are the international standard. 

Meanwhile, national plus schools are somewhere in the middle. As the name suggests, national plus schools mainly use the national curriculum of Indonesia while offering supplementary international curriculums. The main focus, however, remains on the national curriculum.

Learning material

As the focus in curriculums differ, so do the learning material and style that the students would receive. SPK schools often employ a more critical approach with their standard international curriculums, where students are encouraged to analyse to solve problems critically. In contrast, the national curriculum, employed by national plus schools as their primary curriculum, is more known for its traditional approach to learning heavily based on memorisation.

Furthermore, SPK school students have less than national plus students in terms of school subjects due to the differing approaches. International curriculums, such as IB and CIE, offer more freedom for students to select the subjects that interest them. On the other hand, students of the national curriculum must complete a predetermined set of subjects for them to graduate.  

Language 

A benefit of going to an SPK school compared to a national school is language. Subjects in SPK schools are taught entirely in English, adhering to international standards and curriculums. Moreover, in SPK schools, the teaching staff are made mostly of native English speakers, meaning students will practice their English skills daily and improve much faster. Some SPK schools also offer Chinese language as a secondary language, further assisting students in becoming global society members.

Similar to the difference in curriculum, national plus schools bridge the gap between national and SPK schools. National plus schools offer some subjects in English, but not all. Another stark difference between National plus and SPK schools is that the primary language of conversation in national plus schools is Bahasa Indonesia. So students would not have the opportunity to practise their English as much, especially conversationally.

Bina Bangsa School (BBS) is Indonesia's most experienced Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) education provider. Since its inception in 2001, more than 4,000 students benefited from the school's Cambridge-based curriculum. It offers Cambridge curriculums for Primary (Cambridge Primary) and Secondary (IGCSE and A-Level) schools. On top of using English as the primary language on all subjects, BBS also teaches Chinese language  and Bahasa Indonesia as second languages.  

BBS campuses are available in Jakarta, Bandung, Malang, Semarang, and Balikpapan. Applications for Preschool, Primary, Secondary, JCB and Junior College are now open. Click here to find out how to apply.