Providing Access to Quality Education through Low Cost Private Schools: A Case Study in Koja, North Jakarta
Authors
T. Sila Wikaningtyas
Private schools make up over 35% of all schools in Indonesia, and in some areas they outnumber private schools. Koja, a particularly poor district in North Jakarta, is one of these areas. Between the late 1960s and the 1980s, low-cost private schools flourished in Koja. However in recent years, the number of newly established low-cost schools have declined. This is due to stricter government regulations regarding minimum land size and minimum building size.
These new regulations hinder the ability for new schools to be established, thus creating the environment that is not conducive of helping the poor, thus it is recommended that the government revisit these rules. Furthermore the stereotype that low-cost schools are of low quality are simply not true, as evidence show that low-cost private schools in Koja have been accredited with Grades A and B by the national accreditation agency. Furthermore, to help increase the quality of education received, parents should be more involved and encouraged to participate in the school decision making process.
