Carut Marut PPDB, Puan Encourages Evaluation Of The Zoning System And Equity Of The Number Of Schools

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, highlighted the chaoticity of the New Student Admission System (PPDB) following the discovery of population data manipulation to take advantage of the affirmation route. The government was also asked to distribute educational facilities and infrastructure to reduce the potential for fraud in the zoning system.

"When viewed from one side, this incident of population data manipulation occurs due to the number of schools not being directly proportional to the number of prospective students," said Puan, Friday, July 14.

After various allegations of levies (Pungli) PPDB that occurred in Garut, new cases related to PPDB 2023 have now been found. In Bogor City, West Java, around 300 complaints of indications of PPDB manipulation were found, including those related to zoning and affirmation lines.

Disdik Bogor even crossed out 208 student names who were allegedly cheating in the process of accepting new zoning pathway students for the junior high school (SMP) level. This is because the majority of population data registered in the PPDB system is not in accordance with data in the field, aka allegations of population data manipulation.

In addition, it was also found that students from the public were able to manipulate so that they could be accepted into the school of choice by utilizing the affirmation quota. The affirmation path itself is a pathway for student admissions for children who come from underprivileged economic families and children with disabilities.

Puan asked the Government, in this case the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) to evaluate the zoning system. Meanwhile, regarding the affirmation route, the Ministry of Education and Culture is asked to carry out strict supervision.

"We are very sad that the discovery of a lot of population data manipulation for the sake of their children can be accepted at the school of choice. Moreover, until there are children from the family who are making certificates, they cannot afford to trick the student admission system," said Puan.

The first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI considered that there was something wrong with the current PPDB system. The reason is, according to Puan, there were various problems that were found.

"There should be a thorough evaluation to anticipate fraudulent actions, including rampant extortion in the educational environment," he said.

Puan understands that the zoning system aims well to overcome inequality, especially casteinization in the world of education. The dissipation in question is the category of superior or favorite schools with non-seeded schools. Primary schools usually contain outstanding students. While non-seeded schools are more filled with students who have the average ability.

Even so, the obstacle that occurs regarding the zoning system is the lack of quota for student admissions because public schools in each sub-district are not proportional to the number of enthusiasts. As a result, many parents 'tighten' any means so that their children can enter public schools. Either by extortion, stealing the system, and manipulating.

"If so, the homework is to increase the number of public schools so that they can accommodate prospective students in each zoning," said Puan.

The zoning PPDB system is also intended to bring the distance between students' homes and schools closer. Before the zoning system was implemented, many students whose houses were only a few hundred meters from superior schools, but had to study in a longer location because they could not enter the excellent school.

Puan supports the elimination of school casteization, but the Government is asked to find the right formulation so that the zoning system, which is actually intended to be good, is not even used as an opportunity to commit fraud.

"Schools must have the same standards of education, so there is no longer a superior school or not. This is the responsibility of the Government, in carrying out its mandate according to the law," said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

"But make sure the system or method used is really effective, and does not cause new problems. There must be a more in-depth study," added Puan.

To note, the number of public schools under the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2022 for elementary school levels is 130,042 units and 18,933 private schools. For the junior high school level, the number of public junior high schools is 23,864 units and private junior high schools are 18,122 units.

The number of public vocational schools is 3,692 units and private vocational schools are 10,573 units. Meanwhile, public high schools based on data from Indonesian Education Statistics (2020) are 6,878 units, and the private sector is 7,061 units.

With a shortage of school numbers and still parents' views on favorite schools, according to Puan, this is an entry point for fraudulent population data manipulation.

"The imbalance between the number of students who graduate and the capacity of available public schools makes confusion always occur every PPDB," he said.

Puan also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the central and regional governments in overcoming these problems.

"How the role of the central government and local governments in overcoming this issue is by seeking an evaluation so that data manipulation does not occur due to the zoning system. As well as the need to increase the capacity of public schools in various regions in Indonesia," explained Puan.

Furthermore, Bung Karno's grandson said that child education is one of the main priorities of the Government in an effort to create a generation that is intelligent and competitive. In carrying out the mandate of the law, Puan emphasized, the Government must play an active role in fulfilling the rights of education for children throughout the country.

"The government has a responsibility to provide decent, affordable, and quality education for all children. So that as a next generation there is a strong educational background to build the nation and state," concluded the 2 Honoris Causa Doctorate.