On 24-30 June, Professor Valentina Dagienė from Vilnius University, one of the DIGITAL FIRST project partners, visited Del University of Technology in Sumatra island, Indonesia, met students and professors, and gave lectures. One of the important topics discussed during the meeting was Computational thinking (CT), one of the main themes of the DIGITAL FIRST project that aims to transform informatics education in primary and secondary schools across Europe through innovative approaches.
The Del University of Technology or Institut Teknologi Del (IT Del) is a private higher education institution located in the village of Sitoluama, Laguboti subdistrict, Toba Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia, founded by Luhut Binsar Panjaitan. IT Del began its academic activities in 2001 and has graduated 18 cohorts as of October 2021. IT Del is situated right on the edge of beautiful Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world.
Informatics, including CT skills, is becoming part of the K-12 curriculum in many countries. CT is considered an integrative skill to be addressed across curricula. To develop, implement, and study computational models that include technical and social aspects, today’s students need decomposing, generalizing, automating, algorithmising, calculating, and designing skills to solve problems in a highly digitized educational environment.
During the visit to IT Del in Indonesia, Valentina Dagienė met Inggriani Liem, Professor of Informatics, and discussed the K-12 informatics curriculum. Like Lithuania, Indonesia last year overhauled its informatics curriculum from primary school to graduation. Inggriani Liem agreed to give a short presentation on the Indonesian informatics curriculum.
The Indonesian Informatics (Informatics in Bahasa Indonesia is used in the same meaning as Computer Science or Computing) K12 Curriculum is part of “Kurikulum Merdeka” (independent curriculum), one of the main tools for educational transformation that can be used as a model. It is based on the following principles: Student-centred learning, researchers with a reflective life-long learning approach, and a school environment that is safe, inclusive, and celebrates diversity.
Indonesian Minister of Education released the last version of the K12 curriculum as part of Kurikulum Merdeka: K12 national curriculum Framework of Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and High School.
Informatics (IF) is one of the main subjects of the framework, and it is presented in the Framework of the Top Level Design Elements: The eight puzzles in the middle represent sub-themes of informatics: Computational Thinking, ICT, Computer system, Computer network, Data analyses, Algorithm and Programming, Social impact of informatics and Computing core practices. The size of the puzzle represents the hours allocated to each element.
In Kurikulum Merdeka, the levels are defined as follows:
| Phase | School Level | School Grade Level |
| A | Elementary School | Year 1 and Year 2 |
| B | Elementary School | Year 3 and Year 4 |
| C | Elementary School | Year 5 and Year 6 |
| D | Middle School | Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 |
| E | High School | Year 10 |
| F | High School | Year 11 and Year 12 |
Informatics is a compulsory subject for Phases D and E. For elementary schools, it is suggested that schools introduce Computational Thinking. So the Indonesian Informatics curriculum Framework is only implemented for Phases D and E as compulsory and F as elective subjects.
