Indonesian-Arab Education

About 45% of the total Indonesian-Arabs population, 2.16 millions, is in school-ages between 5 – 20 years old. They study at many kinds of schools, General Schools or Islamic Schools. However, it is sadly to say that for low income family the number of students who continue their education until university is very small, 1 out of 20 students. While, for the mid class is 1 out of 6 students.
This potential generation for the promising future of their ethnic existence, mostly live with their parents. And about 80% of them or equal to 1.728 millions are from mid to high economy class while the low economy students are about 20% or 345.000. The last number is the number that will likely, averagely 10% - 95% of the total number, drop out in every level of education.

Table A presents number of students who are studying in Primary School until University. The number is measured from the number of children ages 5 – 20 years old.
In Indonesia, Primary School is completed in 6 years and it is divided into 6 levels of 12 semesters. It is a basic school that every student must take before they go to the next higher level, the High School.

Statistic of Education (Table B)



High School is comprises of 2 levels, Junior High School, grade 7 – 9, and Senior High School, grade 10 - 12. Junior High School is taken for 3 consecutive years and so is the Senior High School. Junior High School is only excepted students who have completed


Primary School and Senior High School only takes students graduated from Junior High School. Senior High School graduates may either continue their education to Academy or University. The Academy is highly chosen for it is shorter and cheaper. So a student of an academy will become independent faster, which later is expected to help support his/her family financial burden by sharing his/her salary with the family.

Statistic of Students Drop Out Education (Table B)


Table B shows the number of students drop out or fail to continue their schools every year. Generally in Indonesia about 20 – 30 percent of students, in every level of education, Primary, Junior or High School, is in the highest grades and these are the students who will graduate and continue their education to higher level.


Students Drop out because Financial Problems (Table C)



Table C shows students who fail to continue their education to higher level. The reasons of their failure are:

- First because of parents’ inability to bear the school fee, transportation cost and book purchasing.

- Second, the parents do not see the necessity of high education for their children although they can afford it and it is commonly because the parents are low educated.

- Third reason is that the students are needed to ease family economy burden by helping their parents businesses or just staying at home in order parents will not
have to spend any money for school fee or transportation cost.

It is very important to understand that the most effective way to help the generation of the Indonesian-Arabs for a brighter future is by giving scholarship for students of High School as priority as it is the highest number of students’ drop out. The percentage number shown is different from region to region that because of every economy condition is not the same.