Federation Of Teachers Supports School BOS Fund Requirements Minimum Of 60 Students

JAKARTA - The policy of having at least 60 students in schools in order to receive school operational assistance funds (BOS) made by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) reaps the pros and cons.

This is regulated in Permendikbud Number 6 of 2021 concerning Technical Guidelines for Regular BOS Management.

Thus, if there are schools run by the community with the number of students below 60 students, they will not receive BOS from the government.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and members of the DPR reject the policy. However, the Federation of Indonesian Teachers' Unions (FSGI) sees differently. They support the policy.

"The standard criteria for the minimum number of students as many as 60 students for prospective schools receiving regular BOS funds from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, according to FSGI, are appropriate," said FSGI Secretary General Heru Purnomo in a statement, Monday, September 13.

First, Heru assessed that Permendikbud Number 6 of 2021 as a regulation governing schools receiving Regular BOS funds was the authority of the government and at the same time as legal certainty.

"If there are parties who feel they have been treated unfairly, discriminated against and violate the constitution, they should file their objections in the judicial review of regulations at the Supreme Court," said Heru.

Heru saw that the parties who objected or canceled did not fully understand the policy. In fact, the requirement for BOS funds is excluded for integrated schools, special schools, schools in special areas, and schools in areas of low population density.

"The meaning is that this Permendikbud provides a very accommodating and non-discriminatory alternative without having to be postponed or cancelled," he said.

Moreover, Heru views that the foundation of each school as the manager and provider of education has initial capital, namely being able to meet the minimum requirements deemed reasonable by the government.

Then, if the management of community-based education works hard to advance the school and succeeds in winning the hearts and convincing parents, then the minimum number of 60 students can be fulfilled within a period of 1-6 years.

"So please private schools compete to meet the target of the minimum number of students according to government regulations," he concluded.

Previously, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim ensured that the requirement for BOS recipient schools to have a minimum of 60 students did not apply in 2022. This was decided after receiving rejection from a number of parties.

"Kemendikbudristek has decided not to enforce this (requirement, ed.) in 2022," Nadiem said in a Working Meeting with Commission X DPR, Wednesday, September 8.