Education monitoring group questions central government's proposed control over schools

The Indonesian Network for Education Monitoring (JPPI) has expressed concern over a proposal within the Draft National Education System Law (RUU Sisdiknas). The proposal suggests granting the central government the authority to establish and manage educational units from early childhood education (PAUD) up to high school (SMA), separate from those managed by regional governments.

JPPI's National Coordinator, Ubaid Matraji, argues that this proposed centralization could lead to an overly bloated and slow education bureaucracy, effectively reverting to the system seen during the New Order era. He believes the central government would struggle to respond to the tactical and local issues that arise in different regions. Furthermore, Matraji warns that such centralization risks standardizing curricula and facilities, potentially overlooking local potential, indigenous education practices, and the specific needs of diverse regions, thereby diminishing educational quality and inclusivity.

Despite these concerns, Matraji acknowledges that the proposal has potential positive aspects. Centralized management could lead to a more equitable distribution of quality standards and funding across all regions, potentially reducing the disparity in educational quality between Java and other islands. Centralized policy could also streamline the mapping, certification, appointment, and distribution of teachers nationwide, eliminating the current issue of responsibility being passed between central and regional governments.

However, regional leaders also voice reservations. Yosep Falentinus Delasalle Kebo, the Regent of Timor Tengah Utara in Nusa Tenggara Timur, suggests alternative methods for improving education quality. He believes the central government should focus on setting operational standards as benchmarks for regional education management, rather than taking over all authority. "If all authority is taken by the center, what will the regional governments do?" Yosep questioned, referencing the authority granted to provincial governments for managing SMA and SMK under Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government.