Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education on the Continuation of New Student Admissions Zoning: According to Mr. Prabowo's Message, Don't Rush

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti gave an introductory speech at the Coordination Meeting for Evaluation of Primary and Secondary Education Policy in Jakarta on Monday (11/11/2024). (ANTARA/Hana Kinarina)

JAKARTA - Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti said that his party will not rush to decide on the continuation of the New Student Admissions System (PPDB) with the zoning pathway during the Red and White Cabinet Government.

According to Mu'ti, the issue of PPDB Zoning and the acceptance of teachers of Government Employees with Employment Agreements is a strategic area in ensuring the fulfillment of quality education services, so his party needs to have comprehensive information, before finally taking a policy related to this.

"Yes, regarding PPDB zoning, later we will make a decision about it, according to President Prabowo's message, ojo kesusu. In Indonesian, don't rush, don't rush, we will listen to everything first, we will study it carefully, hopefully later we can take the best policy," said Minister Abdul Mu'ti as reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 11.

According to him, the PPDB Zoning system policy has a good spirit and philosophy, namely ensuring that every Indonesian child receives quality education services that are not far from where they live.

In addition, the PPDB system also allows for integration and fusion of social classes between students in each school environment, thus trying to eliminate the labeling of favorite schools for certain schools.

However, Mu'ti did not deny that the uneven distribution of teachers and good school buildings is still a major challenge in implementing the PPDB zoning policy, so there needs to be an in-depth evaluation regarding its sustainability.

Previously, Vice President (Wapres) Gibran Rakabuming Raka in his direction at the same activity also asked all levels of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to evaluate the PPDB zoning system whether it will be continued or not in the upcoming school year.

The reason is that the Vice President observed that the uneven distribution of teachers and good school buildings has caused problems and complaints that always recur in every new school year.

"And every year the phenomenon is the same, there must be an increase, a change of domicile before the PPDB zoning system. So this system policy needs to be reviewed again," said the Vice President.