North Kalimantan

North Kalimantan

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North Kalimantan

Every morning, hundreds of students in North Kalimantan (Kaltara) arrive at school to learn to read but without books appropriate to their age and reading ability.

As the fifth-youngest province in Indonesia, North Kalimantan faces the same educational challenges as several other provinces: limited access to children’s books and professional training for teachers. As a result, elementary school students’ literacy achievements are suboptimal. The 2025 Education Report noted that only 66.7% of public elementary school students and 66.3% of madrasah students have achieved minimum literacy standards. Another third have not received the support they need.

INOVASI Phase 3 is present as an Australia-Indonesia partnership to help the North Kalimantan government ensure that all children – without exception – master basic literacy and numeracy skills and have good character.

Programs implemented include:

  • Establish community reading spaces (Taman Baca Masyarakat), train teachers in early grade literacy, and develop and distribute children’s books.
  • Facilitate the strengthening of Teacher and Principal Working Groups as channels for sharing learning practices and innovations, and train principals—including female teachers—to make their academic supervision and management skills more inclusive.
  • Support the establishment of ULDs at provincial and district levels so that students with disabilities receive the support they need to learn.

Through a comprehensive approach, INOVASI strengthens the foundation of education in North Kalimantan in a sustainable manner, especially in the regencies of Nunukan, Tarakan, Bulungan, Malinau, and Tana Tidung.

For more information about programs in North Kalimantan, download the North Kalimantan Fact Sheet or email: info@inovasi.or.id