Teaching in Indonesia

Teaching in Indonesia – Asian College of Teachers (ACT)

Indonesia, a collection of around 17,000 islands making it an amazing location boasting not only ecological diversity but also bringing together a myriad of cultures. If you enjoy water sports then Lombok Island is a real surfer paradise. However, if you want to stay on dry land you can explore the home of the legendary Komodo dragon while discovering the very real magnificent creatures. But, if you are a history buff you will also love visiting temples and shrines that date back to the ninth century and hold a lot of architectural significance.

It is a bustling city with a population of 238 million and there are so many amazing things to see that no wonder it is one of the most popular destinations for people from all walks of life. Additionally, there are a lot of opportunities open for those looking to teach in this heavenly bliss but your earnings depend on the type of job and the location you have been placed at.

Students in Indonesia happen to be keen on improving their English skills and love to do this by hearing about pop culture, hence creative teaching is embraced. Depending on the location, you chose to base yourself on; you might find the country super busy or surprisingly quiet.

Jakarta is the city that never sleeps, while Bali offers a more chilled experience, Sumatra on the other hand connects you back to nature. So, once you have decided on your dream destination, you will definitely find an array of excellent job offers there. Apart from walking the bustling neon-lit streets of Jakarta to taking a sunbath on the beaches of Bali, Indonesia has a lot to offer. Thus, if you want to live your dream of living and working in Indonesia, we have got you covered. Here is everything you need to know regarding the qualifications, credentials, and finances required to secure a job in Indonesia. Stay tuned!

Updated Educational Requirements to Teach in Indonesia

The vastness of the country brings with it a variety of choices to work as a teacher in Indonesia. Demand for teachers is heavily driven in the ports of Bandung and Jakarta and tourist spots like Sumatra and Bali also tend to have a constant stream of teaching positions becoming available.

Education is highly valued and learning English is one of the most essential parts of the Indonesian education system. Since the learning system needs to be reformed, the Indonesian government is bringing in a lot of foreign nationals to raise the standards.

Thus, if you are keen on cashing this opportunity and are looking forwards to working in Indonesia, you must have:

• A graduate degree from a recognized board or university (preferred)
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country or having near-native proficiency for ESL jobs
• Completed 120 hours of TEFL/TESOL course from a globally recognized institution (for English teaching)
• Teaching experience of 5+ years (K12 schools)
• Teaching license in English like B.Ed, M.Ed, or equivalent (Public institutions)
• Must be able to commit for at least 1 year (preferred)

Updated Visa Requirements for Teaching in Indonesia

The visa process in Indonesia is not as simple as the other countries. Thus, to legally work and live in the country you need to make that you are on the correct visa regardless of the stage of your time in Indonesia. One thing to remember here is that your visa status is your responsibility and that the visa rules and regulations of this country can change at any point in time.

Even though the country offers a visa on arrival it is highly recommended to enter the nation with a pre-approved visa. Additionally, your employer will sponsor you and help you with the paperwork and documentation. You cannot get your work permit or any of the work- related documents prior to receiving a job offer. There are several stages involved to get a work visa, which include:

B211 Visa

This visa acts as a gate pass to the country and when you enter the country, the purpose of this reason is tourism. The work visa part comes later as the B211 visa can be extended for working. But when you are entering the country and applying for a visa, it is going to be this visa, and it's for tourism purposes. The reason why this visa is recommended is that you can extend it for work and allow you to get the work permit without having to leave the country.

ITAS (Izin Tinggal Terbatas)

This is a temporary stay permit that a work visa applicant needs to apply for and get the following permits in the following order:

VITAS- This will allow the applicant to enter Indonesia for work purposes.

IMTA (Work Permit) - This will allow the applicant to legally work in Indonesia

ITAS- This acts as an immigration status where the immigration office stamps the passport every year to show your residence status.

KITAS

This is the local name given to employment visas for foreign nationals who are willing to work in Indonesia. Also, it cannot be stressed enough how vital it is to have a solid sponsor even before you begin the visa application for Indonesia. While your sponsor will take care of most of the documentation process, here is a list of documents you will need to apply for the initial KITAS visa:

• Invitation letter
• Duly filled visa application form
• A valid passport for at least 18 months
• A letter from your school or sponsor company
• 2 passport-sized photographs
• Copies of your qualifications
• Notarized university transcripts
• Medical check
• Clean background check

Once the completed visa form and all the relevant documents are ready, they will be sent to the responsible government office in Jakarta. The approval process takes around 30 days and upon approval, you will get a "telex visa". This visa allows you to apply for an official visa at the Indonesian embassy. Once your visit to the immigration office is completed you will have to wait for another 30 days to receive the following documents that will allow you to legally work and stay in the country:

• A Blue Book issued by the immigration
• A Yellow Book which is a police certificate
• STM which is a report certificate from the police
• IKTA your official working permit

Digital Nomad Visa

In 2021, the Indonesian government announced that digital nomads with foreign-sourced income would be granted a 5-year digital nomad visa without taxation. This announcement was indented to attract around 3.6 million overseas travelers and allows the holders to explore the country's special retreats and eco-tourism.

However, this original idea is still debated and after more than a year of deliberation, the Indonesian government has finally announced that remote workers will be allowed to work online for at least six months via the existing B211 visa. On January 20, 2023, there was an update that Indonesia's digital nomad visa was replaced by a second home visa which required foreigners to have proof of funds of approximately $140,000.

Major Types of Educational Jobs in Indonesia

People in Indonesia start learning English from the elementary stage itself and hence, there is a huge teaching opportunity in Indonesia as students are very eager to learn. Depending on your experience and where you want to teach, options are varied. Moreover, there are numerous institutions spread throughout the country, so if you do your research, you will be able to find one that suits your salary and lifestyle needs.

Hiring for teaching positions in Indonesia continues all year round and almost all interviews are conducted well in advance via phone call or e-mail. So, you can secure a job sitting back in your home country unless your institution demands to see you in person.

Here are some of the educational institutions where you can decide to teach:

Training Centres

These centers are mostly attended by learners either on the weekends or in the evenings and hence the demand for teachers is quite high. The centers normally have a specialized curriculum and provide training materials to reduce the preparation time of the teachers.

The basic requirements to teach in Indonesian training centers include:

• A graduate degree from a recognized board or university (preferred)
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country or having near-native proficiency for ESL jobs
• 120 hours of TEFL/TESOL course from a globally recognized institution (for English teaching)
• Must be able to commit for at least 1 year (preferred)

They normally prefer two years of experience but if you have the proper credentials, it will not be hard to secure a job in one of these. You can earn around $650 per month.

Preschools/Kindergartens

This is one of the most sought-after jobs in Indonesia as it not only offers job security but immense benefits as well. Preschools also offer to teach materials to make the job easy for educators. Moreover, the class strength is 8-20 students are generally 20-40 minutes long. You can earn around $2,500-$3,000 per month.

The basic requirements to teach in Indonesian preschools include:

• A graduate degree from a recognized board or university (preferred)
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country or having near-native proficiency for ESL jobs
• Completed 120 hours of TEFL/TESOL course from a globally recognized institution (for English teaching)
• 2 years of teaching experience if you have a master's degree and 4 years of teaching experience if you do not have a master's degree.
• Must be able to commit for at least 1 year (preferred)

International Schools

One of the highest paying options among the three, international schools have a huge demand from foreign nations. The job market is heavily competitive and often requires teachers to be a graduate and hold a teaching license from a reputed organization.

The basic requirements to teach in Indonesian international schools include:

• A graduate degree from a recognized board or university (preferred)
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country or having near-native proficiency for ESL jobs
• Completed 120 hours of TEFL/TESOL course from a globally recognized institution (for English teaching)
• 3+ years of teaching experience if you have a master's degree and 4 years of teaching experience if you do not have a master's degree.
• Must be able to commit for at least 1 year (preferred)

Most schools follow the IB or A-level, AP curriculum; hence teachers with familiarity with these curriculums are highly preferred. You can earn around $2,500-$3,000 per month.

Private Schools

Expat teachers looking to find ESL opportunities in Indonesia will have better luck in finding opportunities in private schools instead of public schools. Moreover, the overall proficiency of students is much higher in private schools than in public schools.

The basic requirements to teach in Indonesian private schools include:

• A graduate degree from a recognized board or university (preferred)
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country or having near-native proficiency for ESL jobs
• Completed 120 hours of TEFL/TESOL course from a globally recognized institution (for English teaching)
• 2 years of teaching experience if you have a master's degree and 4 years of teaching experience if you do not have a master's degree.
• Must be able to commit for at least 1 year (preferred)

Additionally, the Ministry of Education in Indonesia manages the English programs and it recently made changes in the curriculum asking public schools to focus more on learning their official language, Bahasa Indonesia. Private schools, on the other hand, emphasize an international curriculum for English education and hence seek qualified ESL instructors. You can earn around $3,000- $3500 per month

Language Schools

Language schools often have extra-curricular programs or after-school programs that are perfect for teachers who want to build their experience in teaching a wide range of students. At such types of schools, students normally range from primary school level to university level.

The basic requirements to teach in Indonesian language schools include:

• A graduate degree from a recognized board or university (preferred)
• Citizenship from a native English-speaking country or having near-native proficiency for ESL jobs
• 120 hours of TEFL/TESOL course from a globally recognized institution (for English teaching)
• Must be able to commit for at least 1 year (preferred)

These institutions take on the model of an evening school program so that even working professionals can attend and fulfill their requirements. Thus, depending on how you want to spend your time, language schools are always the right choice. You can earn around $1,000- $1,500 per month.

Land a Teaching Job in Indonesia

Vacancies in Indonesia are generally posted all year round as they have an extended school year that starts in mid-July and lasts through mid-June. The academic year is also broken up by two holidays which are Eid and Christmas. Thus, there is no best time to apply; you can find a vacancy that appeals to you any time of the year.

The types of educational jobs available in Indonesia include:

• Homeroom Teacher
• Primary/Elementary School Teacher
• Course Consultant
• Assistant Teacher
• School Principal
• Curriculum/course developer
• Training Coordinator
• Corporate Instructor
• Educational consultant
• Language professor
• Child care center director
• Learning Specialist
• Senior program coordinator
• Curriculum leader

If you want to land a job in Indonesia, here are some hot tips for a seamless job-seeking experience:

• Take refuge in one of the most popular websites like Jobstreet, Teach Apply, Glassdoor, Craiglist, etc.
• If you are focused to become a TEFL teacher then you can look for dedicated ESL- based sites like TeachAway, Dave's ESL Cafe, Expat.com, WISHlist Jobs, Edvectus, LinkedIn, etc.
• Get at least a 120-hour TEFL certification if you have not already polished your resume.

You can also find vacancies in English-language newspapers like W3Newspapers. The Guardian etc if you could manage the initial expenses of moving to Indonesia then considering jobs through newspaper listings are the safest option as they offer you an opportunity of attending walk-in interviews if already present in the country.

Cost of Living In Indonesia

The cost of living in Indonesia depends on the location you choose. Whether you decide to live in rural or urban areas will decide your expenses. However, generally speaking, Indonesia is not an uber-expensive country as compared to European or Western countries. This basically means that even though your salary might not seem generous, it is super sufficient since everything is so affordable.

However, one thing to note here is that even though Indonesia has a low cost of living than other Southeast Asian countries, it has some of the most expensive hotels worldwide, so if you are planning a luxurious vacation, things can get a little pricey.

Depending on the number of hours you want to work and how frugal you are with money, here is a basic rundown of the expenses for foreign nationals living in Indonesia:

• Food: $120-$180 per month depending on how much you spend on groceries or eating out
• Transportation: A monthly transportation pass for public means is around $10-$20 per month
• Entertainment: Depending on your expenses around $50-$100 per month
• Housing: $150-$450 for a room in shared accommodation, depending on the city
• Utilities (Water, Electricity, etc): $10-$40 per month

Major Perks of Teaching in Indonesia

Indonesia involves an ever-growing and huge education sector with plenty of teaching opportunities available for all aspirants. However, the education sector has a long way to go and hence more high-quality foreign teachers are in demand to improve the industry in a positive way.

Apart from having magnificent locations to explore, here are some of the common benefits you can earn as a teacher in Indonesia:

• Housing or housing allowance (depends on the schools and organizations)
• Annual airfare reimbursement
• Health/medical insurance
• Annual bonuses
• Contract renewal bonus
• Loyalty bonus
• Paid vacation

Popular Places to Teach English in Indonesia

Living and working in Indonesia has its own charm and the country is inhabited by some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet. Since you will find yourself spoilt for choice, selecting the best place to work might be a little overwhelming.

However, to ease your pain, here are some of the most popular options you must explore for a headstart.

Jakarta

The capital of Indonesia and probably the first port call for job seekers. It is the country’s commercial and political capital and hence you find a huge number of schools willing to hire foreign nationals and satisfy their teacher requirements.

Bali

Known for its incredibly lush volcanic mountains, stunning beaches, picturesque coral reefs, and breathtaking rice paddies, Bali is another popular destination for expats. Being the largest tourist destination, English language teachers are always in demand here.

Yogyakarta

Lying in the heart of Java it is well known for its traditional arts and cultural heritage. Being the center of higher education, the area houses some of the best private language academies and public schools which makes it a favorable place to live and work for teachers.

Bandung

The capital of West Java is best known for its universities and tropical weather. It is also famous for teaching options offered by premium international schools and training centers.

Teach and Live in Indonesia

As a teacher in Indonesia, it is essential for you to take some time to research the country’s etiquette and classroom culture. This is because as educators you are supposed to be respectful and understanding while adapting to a new classroom environment. About 86% of the Indonesian population practice Islam and hence it is recommended that you wear conservative clothing. However, Bali being a tourist spot is more relaxed in terms of dress codes.

It is also a common Indonesian culture to take off your shoes before entering someone's house or a carpeted room or a place of worship. Also, things like pork and alcohol are off- limits for many individuals. You should pass food only with your right hand and you should never leave your glass empty unless you want a refill. Bringing a small gift while meeting friends is customary even though they will initially refuse it a couple of times before finally accepting it.

Overall, Indonesia is a country that emanates an energetic feeling at all times of the day, so you will never get an excuse to get bored here. Therefore, do your research, run into locals, and make it a place to make a lot of friends and have memorable experiences.