An Overview of the Education Quality in Indonesia

In the last few years, the rapid development of technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have created many changes in various aspects of life, including education. Today, we are still facing issues such as inequality in access and quality of learning, along with new challenges such as the rising use of AI and the impact of the pandemic on education systems and school enrollment. As we head halfway through 2024, the call to achieve SDG 4: Quality Education has become even more crucial. As we celebrate National Education Day, let's revitalize the importance of quality education as the foundation for progress and equality in society.

The availability of adequate basic facilities in the school environment can create better conditions for learning. The proportion of schools with computer access in Indonesia is still very low. Although the proportion increases as the level of education increases, it is still low. The lack of computer facilities in all schools may hinder the implementation of computer-based examinations such as UNBK. Meanwhile, the proportion of schools with access to decent water sources and electricity is almost even for each level of education. However, it should be noted that there are still many schools that do not have access to decent water sources and electricity, especially in the 3T (underdeveloped, frontier and outermost) areas.

In 2023, the literacy rate in Indonesia has reached 96.53%. However, there is still a disparity in achievement for this indicator between rural and urban areas. Based on the last 5 years of data, the literacy rate in rural areas is still lower than in urban areas. This means that although the literacy rate continues to increase, the inequality between regions has not been resolved.

This is also the case with data on the percentage of children who are not/never have been to school. The inequality between rural and urban areas for this indicator is very clear, where the percentage of the population over the age of 10 in rural areas who have never been to school is almost three times the percentage in urban areas.

Furthermore, it can be seen that education completion rates are still low at the senior high school level compared to junior high school and primary school. The education completion rate measures the percentage of children and adolescents who successfully complete the age-appropriate level of education. Although there are differences between education levels, there is an increase every year at all levels.

While all available data shows progress in improving access to education across several indicators, the challenge of improving the quality of education remains. Some schools are still hindered by low education quality, inadequate infrastructure and unequal access to quality learning.

Building quality education is not an easy task, but it is the best investment for the future. Together, let us face this challenge with strong determination and sincere commitment to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to access high-quality education.

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