In a move aimed at enhancing educational access, the Indonesian government is gearing up for the implementation of a new student admission system (SPMB) for the 2025 academic year. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, is designed to streamline the admission process and ensure that students from various backgrounds can enroll in schools across the country.
On April 2, 2025, Lestari Moerdijat, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the NasDem Party, emphasized the importance of local governments actively promoting the new SPMB requirements. "I believe local governments must proactively socialize the new SPMB so that parents understand the steps they need to take to enroll their children in schools for the upcoming academic year," she said.
The 2025 SPMB will feature four distinct pathways: domicile, affirmation, achievement, and mutation. The domicile route caters to students living in proximity to the school, while the affirmation route is aimed at students from underprivileged families and those with disabilities. The achievement pathway is for students who excel in academic or non-academic fields, and the mutation route is designated for students whose families relocate for work.
Moerdijat stressed that transparency in applying the requirements for each pathway is crucial. "The various requirements provided for each route must be implemented transparently by local governments," she noted.
The admission process for the 2025-2026 academic year is expected to commence in early May and continue through June 2025. According to the Central Statistics Agency, the total number of students enrolled in elementary, junior high, and high schools for the 2024-2025 academic year is projected at 52.91 million, a decrease from 53.21 million in the previous year. Moerdijat urged local governments to quickly establish the necessary requirements for each SPMB pathway, enabling parents and prospective students to prepare adequately.
In a related development, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta has announced the opening of the Ujian Masuk-Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Negeri (UM-PTKIN) pathway, which will be available starting April 22, 2025. This pathway offers an alternative for students who were unable to gain admission through the Seleksi Prestasi Akademik Nasional-Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Negeri (SPAN-PTKIN) route.
Zaenal Muttaqin, the Head of the Information and Public Relations Center at UIN Jakarta, stated on April 3, 2025, that there remains a significant opportunity for prospective students in the UM-PTKIN pathway. "Students who were not fortunate enough to succeed in the SPAN-PTKIN route or are not eligible in that pathway should not feel disheartened, as there is still ample opportunity in the UM-PTKIN route," he said.
UIN Jakarta is offering 30 study programs for applicants in the UM-PTKIN pathway, which includes fields such as Islamic Education, Arabic Language Education, English Language Teaching, and various Islamic studies programs.
For the UM-PTKIN pathway, UIN Jakarta has set a quota of 2,856 new students, significantly higher than the 1,236 new students allocated for the SPAN PTKIN pathway. Registration for the UM-PTKIN pathway can be completed online via the designated adisi page provided by the National Committee for PMB PTKIN (https://um.ptkin.ac.id/). The selection process will take place offline at the selected PTKIN test locations, utilizing the Electronic Selection System (SSE) application for both the examination materials and answer sheets.
The registration period for the UM-PTKIN pathway will run from April 22, 2025, at 08:00 WIB until May 28, 2025, at 15:00 WIB. This pathway is open to students from various educational backgrounds, including Madrasah Aliyah, Sekolah Menengah Atas, Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan, and other equivalent educational institutions.
As the Indonesian education system evolves, these initiatives reflect a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that all students, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals. With the new SPMB and UM-PTKIN pathways in place, the government and educational institutions are taking significant steps toward enhancing the quality of education and fostering a competitive workforce.
