Critical Essay on PPDB Zoning System

by Ni Made Saraswati Ansari

    The direction of government policy regarding PPDB zoning system does not appear to be responded positively by most people in our country. Marenda (2019) mentioned that Minister of Education and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy said that since 2016 PPDB zoning system hadbeenimplemented in public schools.Starting from the first year of zoning system implementation, there is always polemic that arises in the community. Like the name, zoning, it is a system of new students’ admission in public schools which is based on the distance from home to school. Pros and cons arise from this definition itself where scoring system is not a consideration of student admission but distance.

    According to Regulation Number 14, 2018(Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 2018), regarding the Admission of New Students in Kindergartens, Elementary Schools, Junior High Schools, Senior High Schools, and Vocational High Schools. Ministry of Education and Culture has determined that there are three admission systems for new students, namely the zoning system, achievement system, and the transfer of parents or guardianssystem. The capacities of each system are 90%, 5%, and 5%. It means that the zoning for new student admissions is preferable to other systems, namely the achievement system, and the transfer of parents or guardians.

    PPDBzoning system has positive goals for the long term for all Indonesian citizens. It has several policy directions which will have good impactsfor Indonesian peopleif they are implemented properly. Taken from Putra (2018), there are ten policy directions which aim to the realization of a good education system in Indonesia for long term. The first policy, it is aboutensuringequitable access of education in all areas of Indonesia. Second, eliminating exclusivity and discrimination in public schools, the hope is there is no such thing as superior schools and non-superior schools.Third, assisting the analysis of the calculation of teacher needs and distribution. Fourth, improving access to education services for groups that have been left behind. Fifth, encouraging the local governments to equalize the quality of education. Sixth, encouraging the creativity of educators in heterogeneous classes. Seventh, increasing the diversity of students in a school. Eighth, providing close distance between the school environment and students. Ninth, preventing the accumulation of good quality human resources in an area. Tenth, the last, assisting the government in providing more targeted assistance.

    The policies that are expected to have positive impacts turn out to be several obstacles for some people. The accuracy of map coordinate was becoming a problem. PPDB zoning system uses coordinate map which turns out to be detrimental to children who live close to school. Even though the distance from the house to the school registered was close, the child still failed to pass PPDB. The PPBD committee is considered to be using the google map application which is sometimes inaccurate. With a difference of just a few meters, it can make prospective students fail PPDB. This problem then solved actually in PPDB 2018/2019 after the government heard aspiration from citizens. The policy becomes using address in family card and the distribution of school formation is based on what district that school located.

    Some private schools are closed. This is another impact of PPDB zoning system. In Selemadeg district, a private school has been closed starting from this year of education, 2020/2021. The last period of this school, ithad onlytwenty-one students graduating from twelfth grade and with no students from the tenth and eleventh grades. Another ‘famous’ school in Tabanan also must be closed due to having no students. And same things also happened in other areas as it can be seen in news around May to July every year. Competition is quite tight among private schools, increasing quality of education system and more promotion from school to school, family to family are said to be one of the strategies in maintaining existence.

    Since the implementation of PPDB zoning system, every year in the even semester, especially in tenth grade in high school or in seventh grade in junior high school, there are many students who move their schools. The movements are usually from ‘non-superior’ schools to schools that are said to be ‘superior’. Of course, they have strong reasons for doing it, first, they want to graduate from a ‘superior’ school although their houses are near the current school, they also add that they want to have new experiences, to have new friends, new place, as teenagers they want to explore other parts of the world. Second stronger reason is, they follow their parents. Not few students living apart with their parents but living in hometown mostly with their grandparents. It is because PPDB zoning system uses address in family card as a condition for admission of new students.

    Despite of the arising problems due to PPDB zoning system, Minister of Education and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy persistedto the implementation of this zoning system. He claimed that evaluation and coordination with several regional government leaders had been conducted. He conveyed, the revision regarding the quota for outstanding students would be relaxed. In addition, he added, not all regions had problems with this zoning system(Arnani, 2019).

    In this year of education, 2020/2021, Minister of Education and Culture,Nadiem Makarimsets New PPDB 2020 zoning rules. There are four pathways in students’ admission or PPDB, namely affirmation, zoning, transfer of parent or guardian duties, and/or achievement. Nadiem stated that not all regions are ready to implement zoning policy. Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Culture issued a compromise policy on zoning by increasing the achievement path quota to 30 percent (previously 15 percent), and reducing the zoning route quota to at least 70 percent (previously at least 80 percent). He also emphasized that zoning is not the only solution in achieving equitable education. There is one more policy that has a bigger impact, namely equal distribution of the quantity and quality of teachers. Therefore, he hopes for support from the heads of education offices as representatives of local governments to immediately conduct an evaluation, at least on the number or quantity of teachers(Putsanra, 2019).

    Minister of Education and Culture,Nadiem Makarim claimed that zoning system is important and the ministry support this system fully. From the intensive discussion done with teachers, principals, supervisors, and all education stakeholders, this zoning system would be managed in more proper ways. Nadiem Makarim mentioned that there are three reasons why PPDB zoning system is done in this new year academic, namely accommodation for high achieving and poor students, providing flexibility forevery area, and equitable quantity and quality of teachers(Harususilo, 2019).

    The composition of the PPDB zoning system can accept students at least 50 percent, the affirmation system is at least 15 percent, and the maximum movement system of parents/guardians is 5 percent, while the achievement system or the remaining 0-30 percent is adjusted to regional conditions. Many students complain that they have studied hard to get the desired results. These days, mothers are confused how to answer their children who have tried hard to get the target to enter a favorite school, why study must be going to school that doesn't need to be fought for. This is also not wrong, because years used to compete in this model. So, this rule is a compromise between the need for equal distribution of education for all levels of education so that the government can access good schools and a compromise for parents and students who have worked hard to achieve achievement in class or win competitions outside of school, where they can get the choice of going to the school they want.

    The Minister of Education and Culture said that this policy would not have been possible without the support of all levels of the Ministry of Education and Culture's technical implementing units, and local governments, as well as other education stakeholders. Therefore, he hopes that local and central governments can move together in equalizing access and quality of education.

    Zoning system does not only regulate the distribution of quality of schools and students, but also focuses on the role and composition of teachers in an area. The Minister of Education and Culture reminded that this policy must be aligned with equal distribution of the quantity and quality of teachers in all regions. Achieving equal distribution of education quality is a joint task of the central government, local governments, including all stakeholders in the world of education. The evaluation and promotion system for degradation is appropriate for teachers, especially civil servants, so that teachers are motivated to improve their qualifications.

    Before closing this essay, it is needed to compare the ten policy directions with the condition in the reality. The first policy, it is about ensuring equitable access of education in all areas of Indonesia. In my opinion it is not reached yet since there are still some areas which have no internet access even electricity access. Second, eliminating exclusivity and discrimination in public schools, the hope is there is no such thing as superior schools and non-superior schools. The reality is, some students still feel that certain schools are cooler. It is proved by some students who move to that ‘high prestige’ schools. This has been happening for decades. A school is without local residents. Third, assisting the analysis of the calculation of teacher needs and distribution. Yes, some mutation done, some teachers were moved but it is quite funny sometimes because the destination schools already have the same kinds of teachers. Fourth, improving access to education services for groups that have been left behind. Yes, it is happening, some schools in eastern part of Indonesia, they have got some helps like internet, electricity, and so on. Fifth, encouraging the local governments to equalize the quality of education. Well, for this part, not sure it has been done, some regencies maybe yes, not my regency, sad to say. Sixth, encouraging the creativity of educators in heterogeneous classes. Yes, the classes are heterogeneous comparing to classes before 2016. But students tend to following bad things. Back again, the key is with the teachers and all school stakeholders to maximize the character education at school.Seventh, increasing the diversity of students in a school. Like it is stated before, heterogeneous students in a class or diversity of students. By having more diversity, students will know, will have many kinds of friends. Eighth, providing close distance between the school environment and students. Yes, it is a very good point, minimize the time, distance, and of course save gasoline.  Ninth, preventing the accumulation of good quality human resources in an area. That’s why the class needs to be heterogeneous. Tenth, the last, assisting the government in providing more targeted assistance. It is related to what Nadiem Makarim expects about PPDB zoning system, namely accommodation for high achieving and poor students, providing flexibility for every area, and equitable quantity and quality of teachers.Motivation for equitable education, do not forget about teacher selection and teacher education that need to be improved.

    The zoning policy is expected to be able to increase national education standards. However, this policy still raises pros and cons, for some people it is positive but some criticize this policy. In fact, the zoning system continues to be implemented in the 2020/2021 academic year even though there are polemics in it. It is hoped that one day this zoning policy will give positive impactsfor all Indonesian people, especially in improving the quality of education in our beloved country.An effort to improve the quality of education is good, but whether to answer the problems and facts in the field is a matter that also needs to be observed. Is PPDB zoning system sufficient to answer and become a solution, or even become a new problem that has been neglected to be a concern?Change is certain, hopes and better will need to be believed, so that it can make education better not just wishful thinking.

References

Arnani, M. (2019). Polemik Zonasi PPDB, Paparan Masalah hingga Tanggapan Mendikbud. Kompas.Com. https://edukasi.kompas.com/read/2019/06/26/18434141/polemik-zonasi-ppdb-paparan-masalah-hingga-tanggapan-mendikbud?page=all

Harususilo, Y. E. (2019). 3 Alasan Mendikbud Nadiem Pertahankan Sistem Zonasi di PPDB 2020. https://edukasi.kompas.com/read/2019/12/17/07362461/3-alasan-mendikbud-nadiem-pertahankan-sistem-zonasi-di-ppdb-2020?page=all

Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. (2018). PERATURAN MENTERI PENDIDIKAN DAN KEBUDAYAAN REPUBLIK INDONESIA NOMOR 14 TAHUN 2018.

Marenda, P. (2019). Sistem Zonasi PPDB 2019, Begini Kelebihan dan Kekurangannya. Liputan 6. https://hot.liputan6.com/read/3993315/sistem-zonasi-ppdb-2019-begini-kelebihan-dan-kekurangannya

Putra, G. D. (2018). Arah Kebijakan Zonasi Pendidikan. http://indonesiabaik.id/infografis/arah-kebijakan-zonasi-pendidikan

Putsanra, D. V. (2019). Aturan Baru Zonasi PPDB 2020 yang Ditetapkan Nadiem Makarim. In Tirto.id. https://tirto.id/aturan-baru-zonasi-ppdb-2020-yang-ditetapkan-nadiem-makarim-enAD