Endah Ratnasari

Indonesia, a vast nation with a population exceeding 270 million, is also home to over five million high school students aged 15 to 18. Within this diverse country, various high school types serve distinct functions under different education systems. As a crucial transition to adulthood, high school plays a pivotal role in supporting students to meet their potentials and preparing them for their future. However, variations in knowledge, character, and capabilities among individuals attending different high schools prompt a critical discussion on the acceptability of these disparities. Limited resources hinder a comprehensive understanding of how Indonesia’s high school system caters to diverse student needs. In the international educational context, universalism view is often emphasized without taking into an account on the other factors such as socio-cultural diversities. This presentation aims to offer international students and individuals beyond Indonesia a deeper understanding of the Indonesian high school system and how it relates to socio-cultural diversities. Additionally, it seeks to foster a dialogue facilitating the exchange of ideas to comprehend the challenges faced by Indonesian high schoolers and collaboratively address educational bottlenecks.