Language and Culture Notes

1. The word kursus is used most frequently to refer to classes offered by a private institution (outside of school). The classes may cover topics such as mathematics, English, dancing, or swimming. The word kursus may also be used to refer to the private institution that offers these academic or non-academic classes. In large urban areas of Indonesia, it is common for middle- and upper-class families to send their children to such classes to improve their skills.
2. Below is a summary of the names of the levels of education in Indonesia.

   - TK (taman kanak-kanak):	kindergarten (1-2 years)
   - SD (sekolah dasar):	elementary school (6 years)
   - SMP (sekolah menengah pertama):	middle school (3 years)
   - SMU (sekolah menengah umum): or SMA (sekolah menengah atas)	high school (3 years)
   - Universitas :	university (4 years)

   
   

   The abbreviations SMU and SMA are used interchangeably to refer to the same level of schooling. SMU became widely used when the Minister of Education endorsed that label; but now with a change of leadership in the Ministry of Education, the SMA abbreviation is returning to prominence.

   
   

   The Indonesian educational system requires students to wear a national uniform; each level of education has a different set of colors for its uniform. The uniforms are red and white for sekolah dasar (SD), blue and white for sekolah menengah pertama (SMP), and gray and white for sekolah menengah umum (SMU) or sekolah menengah atas (SMA).

   SD

   SMP

   SMU