International Journal of Indonesian Studies Volume 1, Issue 3 | Page 173

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDONESIAN STUDIES
SPRING 2016
h. Ilmu Bumi (Geography);
i.

Sejarah Nasional dan Sejarah Umum (National History and General History);

j.

Kerajinan Tangan dan Kesenian (Art);

k. Pendidikan Jasmani dan Kesehatan (Sport);
l.

Menggambar (drawing); serta

m. Bahasa Inggris (English Language)
The previous attitude toward English as the only foreign language that should be taught at
the elementary level was changed in 2003 during the Megawati presidency who was the
well-known daughter of the former first President Sukarno. Sukarno was popular due to his
strong proposal for national identity as an important discourse in education. During his
daughter’s presidency, the attitude toward English was neutral compared to Suharto.
Indonesia issued a similar law on the education system, Law No 20 Year 2003 about the
National Education System which did not mention any foreign language. Even English as a
compulsory subject was not also issued for elementary education. In this law, the use of the
instruction language, that is Bahasa Indonesia, was clearly stated, and any foreign language
(Bahasa Asing) subject was also supported by not mentioning “Bahasa Inggris” in the Law of
Republic of Indonesia No 20 Year 2003 about the National Education System, Chapter VII,
Bahasa Pengantar (Language Instruction), Verse 33, Point 1-3, Article (3)71:
Bahasa Pengantar (Language of Instruction)
Pasal 33
(1). Bahasa Indonesia sebagai Bahasa Negara menjadi bahasa pengantar dalam
pendidikan nasional (Bahasa Indonesia as state language is the language of
instruction in the national education).
(2). Bahasa daerah dapat digunakan sebagai bahasa pengantar dalam tahap awal
pendidikan apabila diperlukan dalam penyampaian pengetahuan dan/atau
ketrampilan tertentu (Local dialects could be used as medium of instruction in the
introductory level if necessary).
(3). Bahasa asing dapat digunakan sebagai bahasa pengantar pada satuan pendidikan
tertentu untuk mendukung kemampuan berbahasa asing peserta didik (Foreign
language could be used as medium of instruction in particular subjects to support
learners’ competency).
Law 20, 2003 also stated that the curriculum contained in the elementary and high
education level only mention Bahasa Asing/Foreign Language as one of the obligatory
subjects instead of “English language” as stated in the previous Law 2, 1989 during Suharto’s
71

Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 20 Tahun 2003 tentang Sistem Pendidikan Nasional, Pp. 1-46.

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