Comparing : Education in Qatar vs Indonesia

In Indonesia, the one who controlling curriculum is the minister of education, with a help from some experts in education. The rate of illiterate people in Indonesia is about 2,07% and most of them is Elder and children who drop out of school.

Type of Education

This type of education is a group based on the specificity of the educational goals of an education unit.

A. General education

General education is primary and secondary education that prioritizes the expansion of knowledge needed by students to continue their education to a higher level. The forms are: elementary school (SD), junior high school (SMP), and senior high school (SMA).

B. Vocational education

Vocational education is secondary education that prepares students especially to work in certain fields. The form of the education unit is vocational high school (SMK), this vocational high school has a variety of specialization specialties.

C. Academic education

Academic education is a higher education for undergraduate and postgraduate programs directed primarily at mastering certain scientific disciplines.

D. Professional education

Professional education is a higher education after an undergraduate program that prepares students to enter a profession or become a professional.

E. Vocational education

Vocational education is a tertiary education that prepares students to have a job with certain applied skills with a maximum level of diploma 4 equivalent to an undergraduate program (stratum 1).

F. Religious education

Religious education is primary, secondary and high education that prepares students to be able to carry out roles that demand mastery of knowledge and experience of religious teachings and / or become religious experts.

G. Special education

Special education is the implementation of education for students with special needs or students who have extraordinary intelligence held in an inclusive manner (joining an ordinary school) or in the form of special education units at the primary and secondary education level (in the form of special schools).

Level of Education

A. Preschool

From birth to 3 years of age, Indonesian children generally do not have access to formal education. From the ages of 3 to 4 or 5 years, they enter kindergarten. This education is not mandatory for Indonesian citizens, the main goal is to prepare students to enter elementary school. Of the 49,000 kindergartens in Indonesia, 99.35% are held by private parties. The kindergarten period is usually divided into "Class A" (or Zero Small) and "Class B" (or Big Zero), each for a period of one year.

B. Primary school

Children aged 6–11 years enter elementary school (SD) or madrasah ibtidaiyah (MI). This level of education is mandatory for all Indonesian citizens based on the national constitution. Unlike kindergartens, most of which are held by the private sector, in fact most elementary schools are run by public schools provided by the state (called "public elementary schools" or "state Islamic schools"), accounting for 93% of all primary school / Islamic elementary school in Indonesia. As with the education system in the United States and Australia, students must study for six years to complete this stage. Some schools provide accelerated learning programs, where students who perform well can complete elementary school for just five years.

C. Junior high school

Junior high schools (SMP) and madrasah tsanawiyah (MTs) are part of basic education in Indonesia. After graduating from SD / MI, students can choose to enter junior high school or MTs for three years in the age range 12-14. After three years and graduation, students can continue their education to high school (SMA), vocational high school (SMK), or madrasah aliyah (MA).

D. Senior High School

In Indonesia, at this level there are three types of schools, namely high school (SMA), vocational high school (SMK), and madrasah aliyah (MA). High school students are prepared to continue their education in college, while vocational students are prepared to be able to enter the workforce directly without continuing to the next stage of education. Madrasah aliyah is basically the same as a high school, but the portion of its religious curriculum (in this case Islam) is greater than that of a high school. The number of senior secondary schools in Indonesia is slightly smaller than 9,000 pieces

E. Higher education

After graduating from high school or aliyah madrasah, students can enter college. Higher education in Indonesia is divided into two categories: public and private. Both are guided by the Ministry of National Education. There are several types of higher education institutions; for example universities, high schools, institutes, academies, and polytechnics.

There are several degree levels that can be achieved in higher education, namely Diploma 3 (D3), Diploma 4 (D4), Strata 1 (S1), Strata 2 (S2), and Strata 3 (S3).

How about Qatar? Is education in Qatar better? or vice versa? let's check it out!

Qatar's Big Investment in education are carried out in order to achieve Qatar as an independent country in 2030. This target is made so that the people are ready to face global economic competition, if the oil supply and Natural Gas which is the biggest source of income for their country, is exhausted.

Qatar employs the RAND Corporation to reform its K-12 education system. Through the Qatar Foundation, the country built the City of Education, a campus in which there are local branches of the Carnegie Mellon Computer Science School, Georgetown University Foreign Service School, Texas A & M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Weill Cornell Medical School.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has formed the Supreme Education Council in 2002. This board directs and controls education from toddlers to universities.

The illiteracy rate in Qatar is 3.1% for men and 4.2% for women in 2012, the lowest in the Arabia but 86th in the world. Citizens are required for schools ranging from kindergartens to high schools. Qatar University, founded in 1973, is the highest, oldest and largest education institution in the country.

There are 3 types of schools in Qatar namely:

1. Independent School

2. Private / International School

3. Company School

Graduated From one Of Qatar's University

1. Independent School

Independent school is a school whose curriculum is prepared by the SEC (supreme education council) with Arabic as the language of instruction, while English, science (physics), math, and Islamic religion are compulsory subjects.

Independent school of Qatar consists of 2-3 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary education, followed by 3 years of preparatory education, and 3 years of secondary education. After completing secondary education, students in Qatar can work directly or continue to university.

A. Kindergarten

Kindergartens start when children are 3 years old and end at the age of 5-6, this is because some types of children apply for 3 years of kindergarten while the others are only 2.

B. Elementary education

A child in Qatar can enter elementary school when they reaches 5/6 years, and ends when they is 11 years old.

C. Preparatory education / Junior High School

Starting when the child is 11 years old and ends at the age of 14.

D. Secondary Education/ High School

Starting when the child is 15 years old and ends at 18.

The cost of education in this school is borne by the government, aka free, starting from Kindergarten until Secondary Education.

2. Private / International school

Private school or international school. namely schools for children of expatriates, or people who live temporarily in the country that is not their birth country. usually due to an assignment from the state or professional.

3. Company School

Company school is a school that is usually held by an agency or company, either from the state or private. This company school system is the same as international school. However, the cost of education is borne by the company or agency. In addition, this school is usually located outside the capital city of Qatar, Doha.

Last thing is something that really crucial, Teacher's Salary. In Indonesia a Teacher only got payed about Rp. 1000k/month in average. If you think that is low, look at honorary teacher. Honorary Teacher got payed around Rp. 500k/month and getting lower and lower when they became a teacher in remote areas. In the other hand, A Teacher in Qatar got payed around USD 2911 per month or about Rp. 15M/month with only 40 Hours/week work time. That's why teachers in Qatar have prosperous life

So, In the nutshell Education in Indonesia and Qatar is not really different. Both have several types and levels, both education starts when the kid is 3 y.o until 18 y.o and can continuing to University. Both education also have a goal that make their people better person. But, in Qatar Education is totally free while in Indonesia you still have to pay some things like uniforn, etc.

That's it for today post. I hope you find something interesting and learn something. Bye~