DKI Jakarta PPDB Most Needed In Indonesia

Illustration (Photo: bantersnaps on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) received a number of complaints regarding the admission of new students (PPDB) for the 2020-2021 school year. Of all the complaints, DKI Jakarta received the most complaints from all provinces in Indonesia.

KPAI Commissioner for Education Retno Listyarti explained, there were 75 complaints received from 27 May to 28 June 2020. Of the total complaints, 65.33 percent or 49 complaints came from PPDB DKI Jakarta.

Meanwhile, 34.67 percent are scattered in other provinces, namely West Java (Bekasi City, Bekasi Regency, Bogor City, Bogor Regency and Depok City); East Java (Pasuruan, Sidoardjo, and Pasuruan); Central Java (Purwokerto); DI Yogjakarta (Bantul); Banten; Lampung (Bandar Lampung); Central Kalimantan (Palangkaraya); and North Sumatara (Padang Sidempuan, Medan city, and Binjai).

The most complaints received were local government policies, namely 78.67 percent. Most of the policy complaints were related to age selection in the special zoning registration route in DKI Jakarta, amounting to 66.67 percent.

"In addition, complaints related to other policies include domicile problems of 6.67 percent, parental transfer problems of 1.33 percent," said Retno in the KPAI webinar discussion, Monday, June 29.

The remaining 21.33 percent were technical complaints such as difficulties in accessing online registration. This has an impact on data verification delays.

"Then, there were prospective students who filled in the wrong data when registering online, there were those who suspected the transparency of the PPDB committee, and there were parents who reported that offline registration (outside the network) did not apply health protocols such as wearing masks," said Retno.

The most complained about age selection

Especially in DKI, PPDB on the zoning route complained because it was accompanied by age considerations. The route, which was opened on June 25 to 27, is given a 40 percent portion of the PPDB DKI for the 2020-2021 school year. The zoning route is a pathway for prospective students to choose schools based on the school zone in accordance with the prospective student's domicile.

Then, when there are two prospective students with the same residence and school distance, the selection for the fulfillment of the last quota will prioritize the older student's age. Parents of students protested this.

"DKI Jakarta's complaints are dominated by objections to the age criteria. Many parents have reported that their children were hit psychologically because they were not accepted at all state schools on the zoning route because of their young age. In fact, their houses are very close to the target schools," Retno explained.

Retno shared one of the unique cases in PPDB SMP in the Cipinang Muara area, East Jakarta. There is a child who is not accepted in 24 State Junior High Schools because his age is younger than the normal age of a prospective student for grade 7 SMP, which is 12 years 5 months 5 days old.

In fact, the oldest children who were admitted to the Cipinang Muara Junior High School were 14 years 11 months old, and the youngest 12 years 5 months 8 days. While the normal age for entering junior high school in accordance with the compulsory junior high school education is 13 years, so the accepted age is still within normal limits.

"This means that children who are accepted are still school-age children below the maximum age required by government regulations," said Retno.