Comparing the Indonesian Kurikulum 2013 with the Australian Curriculum: Focusing on science for junior secondary schools

The introduction of a new curriculum in Indonesian schools seeks to bring about changes in Indonesian society as well as the students’ knowledge base. The curriculum is based on two layers of competencies – Core Competencies and Basic Competencies. Core Competencies are applicable at all year levels and for all subjects. They include religious and social attitudes as well as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge. The science curriculum for junior high school is promoted as integrative science, and some of the basic competencies demonstrate a cross-curriculum approach more successfully than others. Comparison with the Australian Curriculum: Science reveals a number of similarities as well as differences. Content is similar, as are key ideas and skills, and each curriculum has its approach to assessing achievement. Sustainability is a major cross-curriculum feature of both curricula. The introduction of Kurikulum 2013 has not been without controversy, with schools using the previous curriculum while Kurikulum 2013 undergoes further trialling.