The Netherlands supports Indonesia in its efforts to improve the access, quality and relevance of education, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Education for All (EFA) goals in Indonesia.

The Government of Indonesia gives high priority to the improvement of the quality of its education system. This is, among others, reflected in the substantial increase of its annual budget for the education sector. The intentions, priorities and education strategies are laid down in the National Education Strategic Plan 2005-2009 (Renstra), which was approved by Parliament. It is clear from the Renstra that significant external additional funding will be required to meet the objectives. Hence, since 2006, the Netherlands’ support to basic education has increased and broadened in scope. Currently, the Netherlands supports the following education programmes in Indonesia:

• Decentralized Basic Education Project, with the Asian Development Bank: This programme aims to improve the enrolment, retention and learning outcomes of poor children in nine years of basic education. It also supports decentralised management of basic education. Dutch funding to this programme (EUR 23 million) made it possible to expand the coverage to six districts in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT).
• In cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Netherlands supports, with an amount of EUR 18,8 million, the Education and Skills Training for Youth Employment Programme in Eastern Indonesia. This programme supports the implementation of the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour and it improves the education and training systems to prepare young people for the world of work. The programme covers six provinces in Eastern Indonesia.
• With a contribution of EUR 21 million, the Netherlands supports the Early Childhood Education and Development Programme, which aims to improve poor children's development and readiness for further education. Funding is channelled through the World Bank.
• Since the end of 2006, a Dutch Basic Education Trust Fund is being implemented, through the World Bank implementing. This programme of EUR 9,25 million aims to carry out the necessary technical analyses using global knowledge and international best practices to help the Government of Indonesia reach its Renstra objectives and to successfully implement policies in the field of teacher management, certification, ICT, general and vocational education. 
• Basic Education Capacity Trust Fund. This programme is co-funded by the EC and the Netherlands, with EUR 22 million each, and implemented by the World Bank. The programme aims to strengthen the capacity to conduct policy analysis, to engage in policy dialogue with stakeholders and external development partners, and exercise oversight of basic education. The focus is on improving governance and increasing transparency and accountability, especially in local governments, and on strengthening the capacity of information systems.
• Together with the World Bank, the Netherlands supports (EUR 42 million) the programme for Better Education through Reformed Management and Universal Teacher Upgrading (BERMUTU).  The objective of this programme is to improve the overall quality and performance of teachers in Indonesia through enhancing teachers’ knowledge and subject matter and pedagogical skills in the classroom and teacher certification.
• Through UNICEF, the Netherlands supports a programme for HIV/Aids Prevention and Care, which aims to raise awareness of young people and adolescents in the Papua and West Papua Provinces and to build the capacity of key stakeholders, such as government authorities, NGOs, and civil society, to develop, manage and sustain effective HIV/AIDS prevention and care services. The Netherlands support to this programme is Euro 3,25 million.

In Indonesia, the Netherlands plays an active role in coordination and harmonization of donor interventions in the education sector. Close consultation between the relevant ministries and donors has resulted in a strategic framework for donor support and for possible joint funding and programming.

The cooperation in higher education and science builds upon a long tradition of cooperative relations between Netherlands and Indonesia. There are many institutional relations between Dutch and Indonesian universities, and there are also a number of programmes that facilitate these relations.

The Scientific Programme Indonesia – The Netherlands (SPIN) is managed by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science in the Netherlands ( KNAW). The Embassy has a facilitating role. Besides, there are ongoing academic research activities which are, on the Dutch side, coordinated by  WOTRO/NWO.

The cooperation in higher university is coordinated by the Netherlands Education Support Office (Neso Jakarta). This institute functions as the information centre on higher education in the Netherlands and Indonesia; it facilitates exchange programmes and coordinates the Netherlands’ fellowship programmes.

A scholarship programme exclusively for Indonesian professional, called StuNed, was started in 2000. This programme provides scholarships to government officials, NGO officials, lecturers-educators and journalists. The programme aims to contribute to the development of Indonesia through strengthening its human resource base. Each year some 150-200 full scholarships are offered for professionals to follow master programmes, short courses or tailor made training, all conducted in the English language in the Netherlands. For further information on StuNed and other programmes for study in the Netherlands as well as for academic cooperation, please consult the  NESO website.

Neso also organises the annual Netherlands Higher Education Fair (HEF) where Dutch universities present their programmes. In November 2008, Neso will also organise the European Higher Education Fair in Indonesia. 

In 2005, the programme for Institutional Cooperation in Higher Education (NPT) was started. It aims to strengthen the capacity of post-secondary education. The programme is managed by The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) in The Hague. The Embassy maintains close contacts with Nuffic and the Indonesian Ministry of National Education regarding this programme.

Furthermore, the Embassy supports the multi-year training programme for Islamic Scholars in the Netherlands called: “Training Indonesia’s Young Leaders: Muslim Intellectuals as Agents of Change” with a contribution of EUR 2,9 million. This programme is carried out in close cooperation between MORA and the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. The programme offers scholarships for junior lecturers of Islamic universities. It provides scholarships for Masters, PhDs and postdoc education.

In the field of higher education, the Netherlands also supports the programme for Cooperation between International Institutions (SII) for South-South Cooperation. This programme is managed by the Directorate for Cultural Cooperation, Education and Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs