Education in Indonesia is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Education of Indonesia (Kementerian Pendidikan Nasional Republik Indonesia or Kemdiknas, formerly the Department of Education and Culture of Indonesia) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia (Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia or Kemenag). In Indonesia, all citizens must undertake nine years of compulsory education, six years at elementary level and three in junior high school. Islamic schools are the responsibility of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Education is defined as a planned effort to establish a study environment and education process so that the student may actively develop his/her own potential to gain the religious and spiritual level, consciousness, personality, intelligence, behaviour and creativity to him/herself, other citizens and for the nation. The constitution also notes that education in Indonesia is divided into two major parts, formal and non-formal. Formal education is divided again into three levels, primary, secondary and tertiary education.
Schools in indonesia are run either by the government (negeri) or privately (swasta). Some private schools refer to themselves as "national plus schools" meaning that they go beyond minimum government requirements, especially in relation to the use of English or international curriculum in addition to national curriculum.
Senior High Shcool
In Indonesia, there are two types of senior high school. First is generally known as by the abbreviation "SMA" (Sekolah Menengah Atas) and second is SMK (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan). SMA differ than SMK in their studies. The students at SMA are prepared to continue their study to university while students of SMK are prepared to be ready to work after finishing their school without going to university/college. SMA is simply the university-preparatory school while SMK is the vocational school. Students attending SMA will be divided into 3 group of studies in their 11th grade, i.e. Science, Social studies, and Linguistic. Based on the national constitution, Indonesian citizens do not have to attend high school as the citizens only require nine years of education. This is also reflected by the number of high schools in Indonesia, with just slightly below 9,000 schools.[6]Madrasah Aliyah (MA) is the Islamic equivalent of SMA, and Madrasah Aliyah Kejuruan (MAK) the Islamic equivalent of SMK.
SMA (Sekolah Menengah Atas) is the name used in some parts of Indoneasian to describe an institution that provides all or part of “senior high school” education. The term “high school” refers to secondary and third school from years 7 to 12 for the young age 12 t0 15. Some of country define high school as secondary schools begin at Year 8 instead. Unlike most of the other countries, such as Asian and American education systems, there is no concept of a separate institution between elementary and high school. 
High schools are split into the “junior” years (7-9) and the “senior” years (10-12). The junior high school, known locally as Sekolah Menengah Pertama or abbreviated by SMP, and the other part which is senior high school, known locally as Sekolah Menengah Atas and in other terms, Sekolah Menengah Umum which abbreviated as SMA and SMU. There is also one institution similar to SMA, but they were focusing on one specific career major which is known as Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan or SMK. Unfortunately, citizens of Indonesia currently looking down of SMK graduates and they were not preferable to be attended by students. Junior high is a must for all citizens of Indonesia while Senior high is not a must as Indonesia currently applying nine years of study to all citizens. It is managed by the Department of Education in Indonesia and stated in the Indonesia constitution where every citizens have the right to study. Graduate students from SMP and SMA or SMU and also SMK are achieving different educational certificate. All students of Indonesian high school must passed in the National Examination held by government. Students have the choice to leave school at year 12 or at ages 17 to 19, or continue through Year 12. All students finish years 12 in order to align with university requirements.
