Education is a fundamental human right and an essential element in human resource development. However, the quality of education in Indonesia still faces significant challenges, including inequality of access due to privatization of education and inefficient budget allocation.
Privatization of education has exacerbated the gap in access and quality, especially for students from low-income families. Although Indonesia has allocated 20% of the state budget for education, the distribution of the budget spread across various ministries and institutions creates inefficiencies. Reformulation of mandatory spending allocations and more focused budget management are urgent needs to ensure fairness and equality of access to quality education.
In addition, reliance on private schools poses challenges related to high costs and varying quality standards. Many private schools with minimal facilities face funding difficulties, threatening operational sustainability and the quality of learning. To address these challenges, the Indonesian Parliament and the government need to review the education budget allocation policy, ensure that its use truly meets educational needs, and promote fiscal justice to support equitable distribution of quality education services across regions.
Read the full Policy Brief volume 51 entitled “Encouraging Optimization of Education Budget to Fulfill Equal Education Rights” below: