After decades, 89 percent of Indonesian children are in schools. But only a few are actually learning well as shown in the results of Indonesian National Assessment Program. Indonesia was also still ranked in the lowest ten in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Thus, following a recent global trend in education, Indonesia should shift its education goal from enrolment to include learning. How?

Research shows the teacher is a key to learning improvement. What teachers know, do and care about accounts for 30 precent of success in students’ learning. According to an interview with an officer with a national agency, Indonesia has allocated 52 percent of the 2017 education budget for teachers. Despite the huge percentage of the education budget being spent on teachers, including to raise their salaries, their performance has not yet improved. Nor has student learning. What was missing?

To find out more, read the full article on The Conversation.