From Fair Policy to Prosperous Education

Education is the main foundation for building an advanced, just, and prosperous society. In Indonesia, education has been guaranteed as a right for all citizens in the constitution. However, even though the education budget is quite large, gaps in access to and quality of education remain a major problem. This inequality can be seen in various regions, both in terms of facilities and teaching staff. Therefore, policies that ensure equitable education are very important in order to achieve educational welfare for all Indonesian people.

Equitable education is not only a matter of fulfilling a basic right, but also a strategic effort to build a balanced and prosperous society. Education plays an important role in breaking the chain of poverty, reducing social inequality, and opening up better economic opportunities.

In the era of globalisation, education also serves as a means of producing a competitive and innovative young generation. Without equitable education, it will be difficult for Indonesia to compete at the global level because the potential of many young people is not fully realised due to limited access. This inequality can also worsen social and economic instability in the future.

At present, education in Indonesia still shows significant differences between urban and rural areas. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) for March 2023 show that educational inequality between urban and rural areas is still quite high. Based on data on the highest level of education completed by the population aged 15 and over in villages and cities, 5.11% of villagers have never attended school and 12.39% did not complete primary school.

Meanwhile, the share of the population that has never attended school in urban areas is only 1.93% and those who did not complete primary school are 6.62%. In urban areas, 49.16% of the population aged 15 and over have completed senior high school/equivalent education. However, only 27.98% of villagers have completed senior high school/equivalent education. The data show that the majority of the rural population have only completed education up to primary school level, at 31.13%.

The 12-year compulsory education programme has been implemented, but many children in remote areas have not received a decent and adequate education. The problem lies not only in access, but also in quality. Schools in remote areas often face limited facilities, a lack of qualified teaching staff, and minimal technological support.

In contrast, in urban areas schools tend to be superior because they have access to abundant resources, such as complete laboratories, advanced technology, and better-trained teachers. This gap creates injustice in learning opportunities for students throughout Indonesia. The government must realise that unequal education will worsen social and economic inequality. If the policies implemented do not focus on equity, it will be difficult to create a young generation able to compete globally.

Equitable education policy aims to provide equal access and quality across all regions of Indonesia. This does not only mean building more schools, but also ensuring that all schools, whether in the city centre or in remote villages, have an equally good quality of education.

One of the main steps in realising equitable education policy is a fair distribution of the budget. The government must ensure that remote areas receive sufficient funding to improve educational infrastructure, such as repairing school buildings, purchasing sufficient textbooks, and providing adequate technological facilities. In addition, special attention is needed on teacher training in remote areas so that they are able to provide education equal to that in urban areas.

The curriculum must also be given attention and designed to be relevant to local needs without sacrificing national standards. With this approach, education can be more effective in developing students' potential according to the conditions of their respective regions. In the digital era, technology can be a solution for reducing the education gap. Through online learning platforms, students in remote areas can access the same materials as students in large cities. However, for this technology to be truly usable, infrastructure such as internet networks and technological devices must be evenly distributed.

The government needs to invest in building internet networks in remote areas and providing digital learning devices, both for schools and for students. In addition, teachers must also be equipped with training to make full use of this technology.

Technology not only opens access, but also improves the quality of learning. With interactive and multimedia materials, students can learn more effectively. However, the success of using this technology depends greatly on the government's commitment to ensuring that all regions have the same access to digital infrastructure.

Equitable education policy has a major impact on creating social and economic equality. Education is the main tool for breaking the chain of poverty and creating equal opportunities for all levels of society. If children from disadvantaged families receive a quality education, they have a greater chance of improving their standard of living.

In addition, equitable education will also support the development of excellent human resources, which in turn strengthens Indonesia's competitiveness at the global level. Education is not only an individual investment, but also an investment in the nation's progress. Prosperous education can only be achieved through equitable education policy. The government needs to ensure that every Indonesian child has the same access to quality education, regardless of their location or economic background. This policy includes a fair distribution of the budget, improved teacher training, and optimal use of technology.

 With the right policies, the education gap can be overcome, so that every Indonesian child has an equal opportunity to grow and contribute to the nation. Equitable education not only creates a smart young generation, but also paves the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for Indonesia.