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Program INOVASI
The Innovation for Indonesian School Children (INOVASI) Program is a partnership between the governments of Australia and Indonesia aimed at improving education policies and practices. It helps the Indonesian Government ensure that all primary-level students, without exception, master basic skills.
The INOVASI program is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikdasmen), the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas). The program also partners with non-governmental organizations, teacher training institutions, the private sector, and other development programs.
The INOVASI program is managed by Palladium on behalf of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Phase 1 of the INOVASI program ran from January 2016 to 2020, followed by Phase 2 from 2020 to 2023. The INOVASI program is currently entering Phase 3, which will run from January 2024 to December 2027.
Background
Indonesia is one of the largest archipelagic countries in the world. With over 17,000 islands, it is home to various ethnic groups, cultures, traditions, and regional languages. The country has more than 50 million students, three million teachers, and 780 local languages.
Although more Indonesian children can access education, their opportunities to receive quality learning are still uneven. On average, Indonesian students’ basic literacy and numeracy skills are still lagging behind those of students from several other countries.
Some students—especially those with disabilities, living in remote and disadvantaged areas, or from economically vulnerable families—are at an even greater risk of falling further behind in acquiring basic skills. In fact, the lack of these fundamental skills will hinder their ability to develop to their full potential.
Achieving a quality and inclusive education system, and ensuring that all children, without exception, master basic skills from an early age, will lead Indonesia to reach its vision of a Golden Indonesia in 2045.
Focus and Approach
The INOVASI program focuses on improving basic skills in literacy, numeracy, and character education, with an emphasis on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion values. In this third phase, the INOVASI program will strengthen the education ecosystem at the district level in a holistic way and support the government in achieving climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience goals through learning.
INOVASI adopts a flexible development approach to ensure the creation of impactful and contextual models:
Encouraging the identification of challenges based on the local context. Together with local stakeholders, mapping real challenges and finding unique solutions tailored to the local context.
Fostering the emergence of various solutions and local pioneers and advocates for literacy, numeracy, and character education for students. With a strong sense of ownership, local actors will drive the spread of local solutions to accelerate learning in other areas.
Forging partnerships with local stakeholders to ensure alignment between central government policies and regional development priorities, while bridging the gap between national policies and their implementation at the district and school levels.
The Impact of INOVASI through Partnerships (Phases 1 and 2)
6,097
Supported Organizations
43,773
Individual Reach
216
Collaboration
Policy
86
At the National Level
32
At the National Level
The INOVASI program has two main program outcomes, which are:
2) Education Policy, ensuring that the targeted national and regional stakeholders can develop and/or implement inclusive education policies and systems that support basic skills for all elementary school students, including children with disabilities.
2) Educational Practices, so that teachers and school and madrasa leaders in the targeted districts can demonstrate inclusive practices that lead to improved basic skills for all elementary school students, including children with disabilities.
INOVASI supports the government’s efforts to improve policies, systems, and practices at the national and regional levels in the following areas:
Curriculum and Assessment: Strengthening the curriculum, teaching materials, and assessments for basic skills that are inclusive and student-centered.
Teaching Practices: Strengthening the teaching of basic skills in an inclusive manner in target areas.
Educational Leadership: Inclusive leadership in educational services and learning.
Gender Equality: Women’s leadership, boys’ participation, and the well-being of girls.