School Is Not for Everyone, but Dreams Are Demanded from Everyone

With great hopes of reaching Golden Indonesia 2045, education should be the main foundation. The young generation of today are the ones who will lead Indonesia at its centennial. In reality, however, not every Indonesian child has the same right to access education. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), around 2.6 million children aged 7–18 do not receive a proper education, and more than 1.3 million children drop out of school at the junior and senior high school levels.

Education should be a bridge to a brighter future. But when that bridge breaks halfway, the hopes built upon it begin to waver. Therefore, addressing the root of the school dropout problem is an important step to ensure that the nation's big dream does not remain an empty promise.

The high dropout rate is caused by various interrelated factors. First, family economic conditions force children to work to help the household income. Many children from low-income families are forced to leave school and choose to earn a living, even though they have great potential to develop. This is a very difficult choice, one that is often made because of the economic situation that pushes them to it.

Second, access to education remains unequal between cities and villages. Children living in remote areas or small islands often have to travel long distances with very limited facilities. They have to cross difficult terrain, and educational facilities in those areas are often inadequate, sometimes even non-existent. Third, school conditions are not ideal. A shortage of teachers, a lack of learning facilities, and an uncomfortable learning environment make children reluctant to continue their education. Many schools lack qualified teaching staff and decent facilities, which affects the quality of learning that students receive.

On the other hand, parents' lack of awareness of the importance of long-term education also makes children vulnerable to stopping halfway. Some parents feel that education is not very important because they do not see its direct benefits in daily life, so their children are more often directed to work rather than continue school.

Going deeper, we must acknowledge that this inequality is not merely a logistical issue but also a structural one that needs serious attention. The gap between those with access to quality education and those without is growing wider. This worsens the existing socio-economic conditions, so that education, which should be a tool for breaking the chain of poverty, instead becomes a factor that deepens the gap of inequality.

Dropping out of school has a major impact, especially on a child's future. Those who do not continue formal education find it harder to get decent work and tend to be trapped in a cycle of poverty. Education is the key to obtaining better opportunities in the future. Without education, a person's ability to compete in the job market becomes increasingly limited. On the other hand, the nation loses the great potential of young people who should be agents of change. The education gap also widens the social divide.

Children from well-off families can enjoy quality education, while others are left far behind. This is not only a threat to equity, but also to social stability in the future. Educational inequality creates ever deeper inequality, which, if left unaddressed, could become the seed of social conflict in the future.

Reducing the dropout rate requires cross-sector collaboration. The government can expand direct assistance for poor families, ensure better transportation and educational facilities in remote areas, and improve training for teachers. Scholarship programmes and educational assistance also need to be expanded so that more children who are entitled can access education without being burdened by costs. In addition, alternative education based on skills or community can be a middle path for children who struggle to remain in the formal system.

This gives them the opportunity to learn skills that can be applied directly in the world of work. And no less important, public awareness campaigns about the importance of education need to be continuously promoted so that families and the surrounding community are more supportive of children's learning. Many children stop going to school not because they do not want to learn, but because they feel there is no support from their environment.

All of these solutions are not merely technical, but a matter of commitment. Are we truly serious about ensuring that every child, without exception, can access a decent education? If the answer is yes, then we need to place education as a top priority, not just as a temporary programme, but as part of the nation's long-term development strategy.

If we want to look toward 2045 with optimism, we must not turn a blind eye today. Equitable and quality education must become a long-term priority. It is not merely about building schools or curricula, but about ensuring that no child feels alone on their journey of seeking knowledge. Education is a basic right that must be fulfilled for every child, without discrimination.

The roles of civil society, the media, and the business world need to be involved in promoting a fairer education system. This is not only the government's task — it is a shared effort. Because the future of the nation is not about who is the smartest, but about who we do not leave behind. All parties must work together to ensure that no child is left behind in their educational journey.

Looking toward Golden Indonesia 2045 is not merely about talking of technology, economic growth, or political power. Without a strong and equitable educational foundation, all those grand visions could collapse. The quality of education is the main foundation for an advanced and just civilisation.

Education is the most powerful tool for breaking the chain of poverty, bridging inequality, and building hope. And that hope must not be owned only by the fortunate. All children, without exception, have the right to the same opportunity to achieve their dreams.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” So if we want to change the world, starting from Indonesia, let us make sure not a single child loses their right to dream. Education is the key that opens the door to the future, and as a nation we must ensure that door is open wide for all children, without exception.