International schools in Indonesia: what SPK means

This article is for parents preparing a move to Indonesia who are comparing international schools. If you have seen the term "SPK" in school brochures, it should help. What follows is based on Indonesia's Ministerial Regulation 31/2014 and guidance from the immigration directorate. Rules can change, so confirm the final details with the school and the official bodies.

What kind of school is an SPK?

SPK stands for Satuan Pendidikan Kerja Sama, or "cooperation education unit." It is a school run through a partnership between a foreign education institution and an Indonesian one.

Under Ministerial Regulation 31/2014, the foreign partner must be accredited or recognised in its home country. The SPK itself goes through national accreditation by BAN. In short, it is a school where a foreign education system and the Indonesian system overlap.

Who can enrol?

Both Indonesian and foreign students may enrol. The regulation says an SPK may not refuse Indonesian applicants. If you assumed these schools are for foreigners only, that may be a misunderstanding. The mix of students differs by school, so ask directly.

Curriculum and teachers

The curriculum for Indonesian students must include three things:

1. Religion
2. Pancasila and civics
3. Bahasa Indonesia

At least 30% of teachers must also be Indonesian citizens. Even with a foreign curriculum, local subjects and local teachers form part of the structure. The notes do not say how these subjects apply to foreign children, so ask the school.

What about the national exam today?

The regulation also set a national exam for Indonesian students. However, national exam arrangements have changed since then. Do not read the regulation's wording as the current situation. Ask the school how it works now.

Check family stay permits separately

Stay permits are a separate matter from choosing a school. The points below only repeat what the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration says (as of 29 October 2026).

• Relatives of foreigners holding an ITAS/KITAS receive stay permits under a family-reunification category.
• E31B is for the spouse of an ITAS/ITAP holder, and E31E is for an unmarried biological child under 18.
• A separate category (E30A) covers primary and secondary education. Ask the local immigration office which one applies to a child attending school.
• Permits of one year or less can be extended from 30 days before expiry.

This article cannot say which category fits any particular family.

Checklist

• Did you see "SPK" in the school's own materials?
• Do you know who the foreign partner institution is and what accreditation it holds at home?
• Have you confirmed that the SPK has gone through BAN accreditation?
• Do you know how the required subjects (religion, Pancasila and civics, Bahasa Indonesia) apply to your child?
• Have you asked the school how the national exam works now?
• Do you plan to ask the local immigration office about your child's permit category?
• Have you noted the permit expiry date and the extension window in your calendar?

Ask the school

• Who are the foreign and Indonesian partner institutions, and does the school hold SPK status?
• What is the ratio of Indonesian to foreign students, and how are classes organised?
• How are the required local subjects handled for foreign students?
• What is the current procedure for national exams?
• Does the school guide families on how admission paperwork connects to immigration steps?

Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.