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View all search resultsNew school admissions stumble over old problems
Observers are blaming technical glitches and fraudulent acts marring this year’s school admissions process on a lack of preparation from education authorities.
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In-person assistance: A teacher checks on a student's application document at the SMK 3 Palangka Raya state vocational school on June 23 in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan. The Central Kalimantan Education Agency opened the online registration for school admissions from June 23 to 26. (Antara/Auliya Rahman)
T
he debut of the government’s new school admissions system has been marred with problems similar to those that plagued its predecessors, as reports of fraud and technical glitches have prompted calls for immediate corrective action and more stringent oversight.
Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti launched the new admissions system, called the SPMB, in January as an upgrade to the previous enrollment system of PPDB while promising fairer access to quality schooling.
Under the PPDB system, half of all seats were reserved for students living near the school. The remaining seats were split into three categories: Affirmative action for low-income families and students with disabilities, children of parents transferred for work and high-achieving students.
But the structure often led to document fraud, as parents residing outside a school’s zone sought to bypass the rules and secure spots at the most sought-after schools.
The SPMB attempted to solve the previous issues by slashing the quota for local students and increasing the shares for affirmative action and high-achieving students for junior and senior high schools, where admissions are far more competitive than elementary schools.
Read also: New student enrollment policy yet to tackle underlying issues: Experts
Admissions under the SPMB policy were opened last month, but they were followed by widespread reports from regions that some parents and brokers have resorted to bribery and back-channel appeals to secure placements.
