While the Badung district authorities are launching a large-scale program for free English language education, a worrying situation is emerging in the northern district of Buleleng: hundreds of students cannot read. These two contrasts highlight the urgent challenges and efforts in the education sector in Bali.
English for the Future in Badung
In the Badung district — Bali’s tourist hub with resorts in Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, and Nusa Dua — the authorities are launching a new program to improve the level of English among the youth. The district regent, I Wayan Adi Arnawa, announced that free English lessons will be held right in the community centers (banjars). Sixty banjars are ready to participate.
“Instead of children just sitting on their phones, let’s give them a chance to learn English. It’s an investment in their future,” said Arnawa. He emphasized that knowing foreign languages is crucial for working in tourism and finding successful employment outside of Indonesia.
English is already quite widely spoken in Bali. It is studied in schools and actively used in the tourism sector, with hotel, restaurant, and tour staff freely communicating with foreigners. However, Badung authorities aim to raise the level of language proficiency at the local level, especially among those who do not plan to attend university.
For these young people, additional opportunities will also open up: through vocational training centers (BLK), they will be able not only to improve their English but also to acquire various practical skills.
Issues with Basic Literacy in Buleleng
Meanwhile, in the northern district of Buleleng, a serious issue has been uncovered: about 400 middle school students cannot read fluently. This was reported by the chairman of the local Education Council, I Made Sedana. According to him, the main reason is the policy of automatic promotion to the next grade without checking basic skills like reading and writing.
Students from 60 schools have become hostages to the 'finished learning program,' where advancing to the next grade occurs despite academic unpreparedness. Sedana noted that this shifts the burden of forming basic skills from primary to secondary education, disrupting the educational process.
The head of the provincial education department, Ketut Ngurah Boy Jayawibawa, has already promised to address the situation and coordinate with the local department of Buleleng.
The situation underscores the importance of a comprehensive and equitable approach to educational policy on the island, where tourism requires highly qualified personnel, and the future generation depends on the quality of basic education.
For foreign tourists, Bali remains a comfortable destination where knowledge of local languages is not necessary. Most signs, menus, and tourist materials are translated into English, and locals are always ready to help.
Nevertheless, you can learn a few phrases in Indonesian or Balinese. Even minimal effort is met with genuine gratitude. Tourists are advised to install the Google Translate or DeepL app in advance and download Indonesian for offline access. Other apps, such as Duolingo or Ling, can also be useful for mastering basic holiday phrases.
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