The North Jakarta government (Pemkot Jakut) has announced serious steps to accelerate the resolution of the issue of out-of-school children by implementing a 13-year compulsory education program. The city's mayor, Hendra Hidayat, emphasized during a special event that education is the main foundation for building quality human resources.
The compulsory education program, which spans from preschool to secondary education, is considered a strategic step to ensure that every child receives their right to education. The mayor expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, especially the Jakarta Education Quality Assurance Agency (BPMP), which took the initiative to organize this event to enhance cooperation in implementing this program.
Event Details
During the event, Heni Mulyani, head of the BPMP task force, explained that the compulsory education policy will see an increase from 12 years to 13 years starting in 2025, with an additional school year in preschool. She noted that this addition aims to strengthen early education as part of compulsory education.
Furthermore, Vida Hendra, responsible for early education in North Jakarta, stressed the importance of initiating preventive efforts against the phenomenon of out-of-school children from an early age by providing high-quality early educational services. She clarified that early education is key to ending this phenomenon in the future.
Background & Context
The issue of out-of-school children is one of the significant challenges facing many countries, including Indonesia. Historically, there have been multiple efforts to improve education quality and increase school enrollment rates, but significant gaps still exist in some areas. Early education is considered one of the effective solutions to address these challenges.
In recent years, Indonesia has witnessed a notable improvement in school enrollment rates; however, challenges remain, particularly in remote areas. Therefore, the implementation of the 13-year compulsory education program is seen as a positive step towards achieving educational equity.
Impact & Consequences
Accelerating the resolution of the out-of-school children issue could lead to an overall improvement in education quality, positively reflecting on society as a whole. Education is a powerful tool for enhancing economic and social conditions, and thus investing in early education is considered an investment in the country's future.
If this program is successfully implemented, it could bring about a radical change in the lives of many children, providing them with better opportunities in the future. Additionally, enhancing early education may help reduce educational gaps between urban and rural areas.
Regional Significance
The issue of education is also a vital concern in the Arab world, where many countries face similar challenges regarding children's school enrollment. The experiences of countries like Indonesia in promoting early education can serve as a model to be emulated in the region.
Highlighting the importance of education as a fundamental right for every child is an urgent necessity, especially in light of the economic and social challenges faced by some Arab countries. Strengthening cooperation among countries in the field of education can contribute to improving educational conditions in the region.