Indonesian junior high school enrolls just seven new students amid declining primary school graduates

SMP Negeri 13 Parepare, a public junior high school in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, faces a significant enrollment challenge, registering only seven new students for the upcoming 2026/2027 academic year. This marks a sharp decline from the 22 new students admitted in the previous year.

School officials attribute the drastic drop primarily to a shrinking pool of primary school graduates in the vicinity. "One of the reasons is the decrease in graduates from primary schools around our school. There are also other junior high schools nearby, and many students choose to attend Islamic boarding schools," explained Asiah Idris, the vice principal.

The school traditionally draws students from three local elementary schools: MI Labuang, SD Negeri 32, and SD Negeri 58 Parepare. However, the declining number of graduates from these feeder schools has directly impacted SMPN 13 Parepare's enrollment figures.

Despite the low numbers, the school is actively working to enhance its appeal. Efforts include bolstering extracurricular programs, such as sports, drumband, and informatics, and improving learning facilities. The school also offers access to Chromebooks and laptops to support student interests and learning. Currently, SMPN 13 Parepare has a total of 38 students across three grade levels, with one class per level.