In Indonesia, Cambridge programmes run mainly in SPK schools (Satuan Pendidikan Kerja Sama). These are partnerships between an accredited foreign institution and an Indonesian one, licensed under Permendikbud 31/2014. Indonesian students must still study Religion, Pancasila and Civics, and Bahasa Indonesia. Cambridge AS & A Level entries in Indonesia rose 12% in 2026.
What is an SPK school?
A cooperation school, not an “international school” in law. Permendikbud No. 31 of 2014 defines an SPK as an education unit run on the basis of cooperation between a foreign education institution “accredited or recognised in its country” (LPA) and an Indonesian institution (LPI). The Indonesian partner must hold an A accreditation (Permendikbud 31/2014, articles 1 and 3).
The same regulation bans the label. An SPK “is prohibited from using the word Internasional” in the name of the school, a programme, a class or a subject. Schools that called themselves international had until 1 December 2014 to comply, or else become national schools or close. That is why Indonesian schools offering Cambridge often describe themselves as “SPK” or “national plus”.
What does the SPK regulation require?
A licence, a partnership, accreditation and national content for Indonesian students. The main conditions in Permendikbud 31/2014:
| Requirement | What the regulation says |
|---|---|
| Licence | A permit from the Minister; for formal education it is valid for 6 years |
| Partnership | A written cooperation agreement between the foreign and Indonesian institutions |
| Accreditation | By the national accreditation board (BAN), within a year of the SPK’s first graduates; foreign accreditation is also permitted |
| National subjects | For Indonesian citizens: Religious Education, Pancasila and Civic Education, and Bahasa Indonesia |
| Language | Civics and Bahasa Indonesia must be taught in Bahasa Indonesia |
| Indonesian teachers | At least 30% of teachers |
| Indonesian non-teaching staff | At least 80%, excluding the head of the school |
| National assessment | Indonesian students must take part in national exams |
The national exam clause was written when Indonesia still ran the Ujian Nasional. The ministry abolished the Ujian Nasional in 2021 through Circular Letter No. 1 of 2021, and replaced it with the Asesmen Nasional (Kemendikbud). SPK leaders should confirm with the ministry which national assessments their Indonesian students take now. It is now the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen).
How fast are Cambridge entries growing in Indonesia?
Faster than Cambridge’s global average in 2026. Globally, Cambridge AS & A Level entries rose 5% in June 2026, to 737,000. A Cambridge spokesperson told Tes that entries were “up 7 per cent in China, 5 per cent in Bangladesh, 12 per cent in Indonesia and 5 per cent in Saudi Arabia” (Tes, 11 August 2026).
Indonesia is also an early adopter of the new March Checkpoint series. The first series results, in May 2026, were “most popular with schools in South Asia and Southeast Asia & Pacific, with India and Indonesia making the most entries” (Cambridge). Almost 16,000 learners in 44 countries took it.
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge AS & A Level entries, Indonesia, June 2026 | Up 12% on 2025 | Cambridge spokesperson via Tes |
| Cambridge AS & A Level entries, worldwide | 737,000, up 5% | Tes |
| March 2026 Checkpoint series | India and Indonesia made the most entries | Cambridge |
Neither Cambridge nor the ministry publishes a count of Cambridge or SPK schools in Indonesia, so none is given here.
How do Cambridge students enter Indonesian universities?
Through an international stream, or by getting results made equivalent. Cambridge says entrance to international-stream programmes “is usually straightforward”, but that stream “only exists in a small number of universities” and fees are higher. For domestic programmes, students “are usually required to have their Cambridge certificates certified as equivalent to the local standard” by the ministry. Cambridge adds that “this option is currently only open to students who have attended a licensed international school”. The alternative is the equivalence exam, Paket C (Cambridge).
For leaders, this makes the SPK licence a matter of student progression, not just compliance. A lapsed licence can close the equivalence route for graduates.
What should SPK leaders plan now?
- Check the licence date. Permits last six years; plan the renewal a year ahead.
- Audit national subjects for every Indonesian student, taught in Bahasa Indonesia where required.
- Track staffing ratios each term: 30% Indonesian teachers and 80% Indonesian non-teaching staff.
- Confirm national assessment duties with Kemendikdasmen, since the Ujian Nasional no longer exists.
- Brief families on university routes before Year 12, including equivalence certification and Paket C.
- Plan the Cambridge calendar around the June and November series, and consider the March Checkpoint series. See the mock exam calendar.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
When a timetable carries Religion, Civics and Bahasa Indonesia alongside IGCSE and A Level, Cambridge time is tight. AI Buddy gives students past-paper-style Cambridge practice with instant marking between lessons. Teachers get topic-level data, so lesson time goes where the cohort needs it. National subjects remain the school’s own teaching.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SPK school in Indonesia?
A Satuan Pendidikan Kerja Sama: a school run in cooperation between an accredited foreign institution and an A-accredited Indonesian institution, licensed under Permendikbud 31/2014.
Can SPK schools call themselves international schools?
No. The regulation prohibits the word “Internasional” in the names of SPK schools, programmes, classes and subjects.
Do Indonesian students in SPK schools study national subjects?
Yes. They must study Religious Education, Pancasila and Civic Education, and Bahasa Indonesia, with Civics and Bahasa Indonesia taught in Bahasa Indonesia.
Are Cambridge entries growing in Indonesia?
Yes. A Cambridge spokesperson said AS & A Level entries in Indonesia were up 12% in June 2026, against 5% worldwide.
For more countries, see Cambridge & Edexcel Schools by Country.
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Sources
- Ministry of Education and Culture, Permendikbud No. 31 Tahun 2014 on Satuan Pendidikan Kerja Sama (April 2014)
- Kemendikbud, Kemendikbud Tiadakan Ujian Nasional 2021 (February 2021)
- Cambridge International, Recognition in Indonesia and Results of new Cambridge Checkpoint series released (7 May 2026)
- Tes, Exam results 2026: Cambridge International A levels released (11 August 2026)