Since 2017, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemendikbud RI) has introduced a zoning policy within the student admissions system (Penerimaan Peserta Didik Baru / PPDB). The policy was further refined in 2018 through Ministerial Regulation (Permendikbud) No. 14 of 2018, replacing Permendikbud No. 17 of 2017 on PPDB.

Why zoning? The primary rationale put forward by the government is the need for comprehensive school reform aimed at ensuring more equitable access to and quality of education services.

This edition of Education Brief presents empirical findings that aim to enrich the discussion on the urgency of the zoning policy, as well as other policies oriented toward equal educational opportunity. The study is guided by two central questions.

The first concerns education quality:
How large are the disparities in quality between schools in Indonesia?

Beyond public perceptions of “elite” versus “non-elite” schools, rigorous scientific evidence regarding disparities in school quality in Indonesia remains limited. This study contributes quantitative national-level estimates of quality gaps at the junior secondary (SMP) and senior secondary (SMA) levels.

If evidence confirms significant quality disparities, then access becomes a critical issue. Therefore, the second question explored is:
Who—meaning students from which socioeconomic backgrounds—are enrolled in higher-quality schools?

The full study can be downloaded in Education Brief – Edition 17: Inequality in Education Quality and Access in Indonesia.