education level
Also called: tingkat pendidikan
Stages of formal education from early childhood education, elementary, junior high, senior high, to higher education.
What it means
An education level is a tier of education arranged in sequence, starting from early childhood education, elementary school, secondary school, to higher education. In Indonesia, the level determines the curriculum, student age, and types of costs that arise. Each level has a different spending pattern.
Why it matters for families
The education level affects the size and pattern of education costs, because generally the higher the level, the greater the funding needed. Families planning education need to look at the next level, not just this year. If they misjudge the cost increase between levels, the funds prepared may fall far short when a child moves up a level.
Example
For example, a child's school cost in elementary school is around Rp500 thousand per month, then rises to Rp900 thousand per month upon entering junior high. The difference of Rp400 thousand per month needs to be included in the family budget while the child is still at the previous level. This figure is an illustration, not an official benchmark.
Common misunderstanding
Many people assume costs rise only slightly between levels. In fact, the increase can be quite large, especially when moving from basic to secondary education or to higher education.