Free and Compulsory Basic Education Leading to the Revised National Education Law

Abstract

This chapter discusses the transformation of future elementary education policies in Indonesia. As a right of all citizens, elementary education has been mandated through constitutional amendments, stating that the government must finance compulsory and free elementary education. However, this provision is not in harmony with Law No. 20/2003 on National Education Standards, which imposes some costs on the community through private schools. A reorganization is needed regarding the pathways, types, and levels of education; one of them is the integration of vocational education into high schools with training programs as an option for students. Regarding the level of autonomy, it is noted that the previous National Education Standards Law did not align with regulations on government autonomy, resulting in obstacles to decentralization. For a strong educational autonomy to exist, it is suggested that the role of local governments be strengthened. Finally, the discussion on education financing highlights the need to formulate more concrete and measurable provisions in the revised National Education Standards Law. Education financing should include funding and budgets that reflect the needs of provision, as well as the roles of various levels of government in contributing to the funding of education.