Changing images of favorite schools after the student admission system reform in Indonesia

Authors

  • Janu Arlinwibowo Research Center for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9566-9468
  • Sri Fajar Martono Research Centre for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5839-2276
  • Ikhya Ulumudin Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia
  • Hermanto Waruwu Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia
  • Yufridawati Yufridawati Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia
  • Yunita Murdiyaningrum Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia
  • Gupita Nadindra Fatima National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, International College of Semiconductor Technology (ICST)
  • Benjamin Leong Tack Khang International Transnational Education Association

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21831/reid.v10i2.77035

Keywords:

school labeling, favorite school, student admission, school zoning

Abstract

The study aims to unearth public perceptions of the label of favorite schools after the implementation of student admission reform in Indonesia, namely the zoning system, and to explore the underlying causes. Adopting a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach, this study involved participants from nine provincial education services, nine regency education services, 72 teachers, and 72 parents. Data collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups reveal three distinctive perceptions of favorite schools. The first view posits that after the implementation of the zoning system, the quality among schools is relatively similar, indicating that the new policy is effective in reducing educational disparity. The second sees that some favorite schools persist, but there is a narrowing educational disparity among schools. The third view, the majority, maintains the belief of the importance of favorite schools and maintains the idea that sending their children to these schools is important to secure a better future. Erasing the label of favorite schools is not an easy endeavor since these schools have created long-lasting positive images in the public landscape. The result of the study will add to the discussion of the impact of the new applied school zone system on public perception of favorite schools and inform policymakers regarding the impact of educational policy enacted.

Author Biographies

Janu Arlinwibowo, Research Center for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia

Janu Arlinwibowo is a researcher at Research Center for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia. He completed the doctoral study and received a doctoral degree in educational research and evaluation in 2022. His research focuses on mathematics education, STEM education, instructional technology, educational assessment and measurement, and education for students with special needs.

Sri Fajar Martono, Research Centre for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia

Sri Fajar Martono is a junior researcher at the Research Center for Education at the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) with research focus on educational policy, including policy on inclusive education and student development and well being. Before joining BRIN, he worked at The Educational Policy Research Center at The Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia for almost 10 years. His recent research is regarding the challenges of the implementation of inclusive education in Indonesia

Ikhya Ulumudin, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia

Ikhya Ulumudin is  a program coordinator for educational standards at  the Center of Educational Standards and Policy under The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology which main responsibility is revising the national educational standards. Some of his previous research are covering the topic of the implementation of national examination, the quality of textbooks in secondary schools, educational management on higher education, and so on.

Hermanto Waruwu, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia

Hermanto Waruwu is a junior data and information analyst from the Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology. He has master degree in sociology and also social policy. His research focuses on education study

Yufridawati Yufridawati, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia

Yufridawati is a senior policy analyst at the Center of Educational Standards and Policy. She had been a lecturer on research methodology subjects at LAN and several private universities. She completed her master of science from IPB in 2004. She is now a senior policy analyst in education. She leads the field research of education, social, and culture.

Yunita Murdiyaningrum, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia

Yunita Murdiyaningrum is a junior education policy analyst from the Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology. She has  a master's degree in educational research and evaluation. She has contributed to various studies, including national education standards, several studies for early childhood education, inclusive education in Indonesia, research for vocational high school, creativity of teachers in the implementation of the 2013 curriculum and many more

Gupita Nadindra Fatima, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, International College of Semiconductor Technology (ICST)

Gupita Nadindra Fatima is a master student in National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, International College of Semiconductor Technology (ICST)

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Published

2024-10-12

How to Cite

Arlinwibowo, J., Martono, S. F., Ulumudin, I., Waruwu, H., Yufridawati, Y., Murdiyaningrum, Y., … Khang, B. L. T. (2024). Changing images of favorite schools after the student admission system reform in Indonesia. REID (Research and Evaluation in Education), 10(2), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.21831/reid.v10i2.77035

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