Kids in Uniforms

elementary children wear red and white

One of the things I really enjoy seeing here in Indonesia are the school children. It's very common to see them walking in groups or gathered around food vendors near their respective schools.

One of the first things you notice is that they are always dressed alike. You can determine their age based on what color uniform they are wearing. For example, elementary aged kids (Grades 1-6) wear dark red and white. Middle school kids (Grades 7-8) wear dark blue and white and high school kids (Grades 9-12) wear gray and white.

high school girls in gray and white

In Indonesia, the first 6 grades are free and mandatory. Supposedly education is compulsory through Grade 9. But beginning at Grade 7, families have to start paying for their children to go to school. It’s probably not a lot by US standards, but it's my understanding that here in Indonesia it is enough that many children do not go to school past Grade 6, simply because their families cannot afford it. From what I am told, the amount parents have to pay for High School aged kids is more than for Middle School. Thus many children have to drop out before they get through all 12 grades. I have mentioned before that the boys that work here at our apartment complex are a constant revolving door and none of them are in school, though they are all of school age. So it is not uncommon to see kids wearing no uniform at all, and one can assume that these children come from poorer families that cannot afford to keep their children in school.

Guidelines for school uniforms require the boys shirts to be short sleeved and the girls skirts to fall below the knee. Muslim girls are allowed to wear long sleeve shirts, longer skirts and jilbab to cover their heads. Occasionally I see checkered vests or shorts. I suppose they are just accessories or additions to the basic uniform colors (ability to mix and match). Students involved in PE wear matching sports outfits as well.

more elementary boys (note checkered vests)

middle school girls on batik Friday

Some private schools have different colored uniforms, although they are still the basic blouse/shirt and below-the-knee skirt or slacks. Most often, younger kids wear black or white tennis shoes with the school uniform, while High School children wear mostly black shoes. Some uniforms have a particular schools emblem on the front or sleeve of the shirt. Students are not allowed to color their hair or have tattoos anywhere on their body. Males are not allowed to have long hair.

elementary girls on batik Friday

elementary school children performing at local mall

high school girls in batik on Friday

mandatory scout uniforms worn on Saturday

In addition to their regular school uniforms, all school children Grades 1-12 must wear their respective batik shirts and blouses (sometimes short sleeve, sometimes long) on Fridays. Children go to school here 6 days a week, including Saturday when all students must wear their scout uniforms (both girls and boys, Grades 1-12). School buses are non existent. Children can be seen walking with  parents, in groups or piling into angkots (Indonesia’s most popular form of public transportation).

Kids who do not attend school can be seen working the streets, trying to sell trinkets or food, entertaining with monkeys or strumming guitars for a few coins at busy intersections or any place that traffic tends to back up. If I am walking I always speak to them and often ask if I can take their photograph. Most are very shy and do not want their photograph taken by a bule, though occasionally I will come across a ham.