Homecoming PPDB 2024: Not Only Confuses Parents, But Also Sends Mental Students

Officers gave directions to parents in the online acceptance of New Students (PPDB) at the Yogyakarta City Education, Youth and Sports Office, Danurejan, Yogyakarta. (ANTARA/Hendra Nurdiyansyah/foc)

JAKARTA Public school registration seems to be a nightmare, both for prospective students and parents. At least that's what happened in the last eight years.

Registration for New Student Admissions (PPDB) for the 2024/2025 school year in various regions has begun. However, like in previous years, the online PPDB process always makes parents and students dizzy.

Starting from the PPDB server which is down so that it cannot be accessed, until allegations of fraudulent practices are still found, either through zoning, achievement, or affirmation channels.

PPDB for the high school level in the district of West Java city experienced problems from the first day. The PPDB registration website cannot be accessed, so parents and prospective students are confused.

The PPDB dispute, which has been repeated for eight years, not only makes parents confused but also students become stressed.

The zoning system is the government's effort to accelerate the equitable distribution of the quality of education. However, in practice, this system is still found to be fraudulent, such as gratification, entrusted services, buying and selling chairs, manipulation, limited achievement routes, to inaccurate coordinate points maps.

According to the National Monitoring Network for Indonesian Educational Monitoring (JPPI), as of June 20, 2024, 162 cases were collected in the PPDB process, namely value fraud on the achievement path 42 percent, KK manipulation on the zoning route 21 percent, and 7 percent mutation, as well as 11 percent dissatisfaction of parents on the affirmation route. Apart from that, there are also cases of reports of allegations of 19 percent gratification, this is done through 2 dark routes called buying and selling seats and insiders entrusted services.

"If we look at the problem of PPDB 2024, exactly the same as in previous years. This is a routine and annual case. There has been no change at all. Likewise, reports of public complaints and the results of this year's JPPI knowledge are the same as the problem," said JPPI National Coordinator, Ubaid Matraji in a statement received by VOI.

"It should discuss the possibility of changing the PPDB system which is more just for all. This is important because the PPDB problem is not a technical matter of implementation, but a system that is still not fair," he explained.

According to Ubaid, the current system is very confusing for parents. PPDB zoning system turned out to fail even though the distance of the house was close to the school. This case occurred in Bogor City, which led to a number of parents visiting SMAN 3 Bogor City because they did not accept the results of the PPDB zoning system. They suspect that there was fraud with the trick of riding a family card (KK) and a distance that is further accepted in the zoning system. This incident also happened in other areas.

The achievement path is the same. Although prospective students excel, it turns out that they did not pass either. This case was found in the city of Palembang which involved 7 SMAN who carried out maladministration practices.

So, what size is it on this line? This failure in the path of achievement also builds up reports of disappointment in many other cities, "said Ubaid.

Not to mention, reckless practices occur in the dark route via gratification and insider deposit services. This involves many parties and drains a lot of money. This year, the alleged existence of this case began from Rp. 2 million to Rp. 25 million in various regions," he said.

The zoning system in school registration does not only apply in Indonesia, but also in other countries, including Scotland. The difference is, PPDB zoning in Scotland is far from cheating.

This can happen because the data of all students is integrated. Thus closing the loophole for document manipulation during school registration. In addition, the quality of schools in Scotland is also evenly distributed so that parents do not need to hunt down their favorite schools.

Education observer Indra Charismiadji assesses that the zoning PPDB system is correct. However, the problem is the lack of the number of schools or chairs provided by the government for public schools.

"For eight years the main problem is not immediately addressed by the government, it's just news. The problem is not zoning, the zoning is correct because public services must match the place where we live," said Indra.

"What is wrong is that the government will not immediately increase the number of schools, increasing the number of seats to accommodate all Indonesian children, this is what makes parents always fight," he added.

The zoning system ultimately only makes parents confused and frustrated, while prospective students also feel stressed. Even though school should be a fun moment, not only for students but also for parents.

Therefore, Ubaid hopes that the PPDB system must end. This PPDB system, which like this, only benefits public schools and discriminates against private schools. Likewise for children, it is beneficial for those who pass PPDB in public schools, while tortureing a failed parent, because they have to enter a private sector that costs a lot, or the private sector costs cheap but not quality.