PPDB Zoning System Wants To Be Removed: Solutions Or Instead Add New Problems In Education In Indonesia?

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 - Vice President (Vice President) Gibran Rakabuming Raka asked the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti to abolish the policy of New Student Admission (PPDB) with a zoning system. But many parties asked for this request to be reviewed before it was completely deleted.

The request for Vice President Gibran was driven by his experience while still serving as Mayor of Solo at the 2021-2024 period. At that time, the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo admitted that he received many complaints in almost every year of teachings related to the zoning system.

He even wrote to Nadiem Makarim, who at that time served as Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek). Gibran complained about matters related to education in the Solo area, including zoning issues, national exams, the Merdeka Learning program, to school supervisory problems. But the vice president who was born 37 years ago admitted that he did not receive a response from the Minister of Education and Technology Nadiem.

The intention of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to ask Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu'ti to remove PPDB with a zoning system as one of the government's commitments to welcoming Indonesia Gold 2045. Gibran said, human resources (HR) need superior through improving the education system, and one way to achieve this mission is to abolish the PPDB zoning system policy.

Since its official implementation in 2017, the PPDB zoning system policy has often caused problems. In fact, at that time, the Minister of Education and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, stated that this system aims to bring students closer to the nearest school to reduce transportation costs and reduce the population of students and teaching staff.

But in its implementation it actually raises various problems, especially related to imbalance in the quota for admission with the number of prospective students. This is common in various regions, such as Jakarta.

In almost every year reports about various frauds to be accepted at public schools surface, such as data manipulation practices to gratuities. This, according to the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) threatens millions of Indonesian children not to go to school because they fail to qualify at PPDB public schools.

Tired of the chaotic behavior of PPDB, finally the call for the zoning system to be abolished was echoed by parents. That's why when Vice President Gibran asked Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu'ti to remove zoning systems such as fresh air for some parents. Especially when he was inaugurated some time ago, Abdul Mu'ti also mentioned that he would evaluate several policies, such as the Merdeka Curriculum, PPDB zoning systems, and others.

But in the eyes of a number of observers, PPDB zoning system is actually positive. National JPPI Coordinator Ubaid Matraji said that the zoning system is basically an advance compared to returning UN as a condition for graduating and entering the next level school. The reason is that with the zoning system all children have the right to go to school.

With UN, only children who excel are the priority, while the bad value is the impression first (to be able to go to school). Even though PPDB with a zoning system is a progress," said Ubaid while talking to VOI some time ago.

Meanwhile, the Education and Teacher Association or P2G does not turn a blind eye to the various same problems in the implementation of PPDB, namely the uneven distribution of public schools in Indonesian territory, the implementation of PPDB in the regions is not based on student demographic analysis.

In addition, PPDB zoning system is often problematic because it is not based on geographical analysis of access from house to school, manipulation of family cards for favorite schools, the practice of extortion and intervention to be accepted in certain schools, and the existence of equal distribution of school quality nationally as originally intended zoning.

However, Vice President Gibran's statement that will remove the PPDB zoning system seems rushed and reactionary. Related to this, P2G hopes that the central government will not just delete it, don't be in a hurry without an objective academic study and without involving meaningful public participation (meaningful participation).

"Don't let the sudden decision to remove the PPDB Zoning system have a counterproductive impact on students and the education system in general, namely the higher the dropout rate, creating school casteization again, the higher the cost of education in private schools, and the children from poor families are getting far behind," said Kornas P2G, Satriwan Salim in a statement received by VOI.

P2G invites the Minister of Education and Culture to involve the public participation of all elements of education stakeholders. So it doesn't just decide let alone be rushed. So far, P2G has not seen the Minister of Education and Culture Abdul Mu'ti has conducted a study and public involvement in discussions that invite all elements of education stakeholders such as: educational organizations, teacher organizations, academics, LPTK campuses, and parents of students.

"P2G hopes that the Ministry of Education and Culture will create a PPDB design scheme that is more just, non-discriminatory, and in favor of all Indonesian children," he added.

Indeed, PPDB zoning system needs evaluation and in-depth study. It takes improvement in a number of aspects so that the goal of equitable education through this system is met.

In the 1945 Constitution, it has actually been explained that education is the right of all Indonesian children and the government is obliged to provide education. For this reason, removing the PPDB zoning system could cause new problems, one of which is the fulfillment of children's rights in obtaining education.