The Indonesian government is increasingly recognizing the pivotal role of private education institutions, especially as it aims to advance the quality of educational offerings across the nation. Atip Latipulhayat, Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, has underscored this partnership during speeches at recent seminars, stating, "(Sekolah) swasta adalah mitra dalam penyelenggaraan pendidikan. Bahkan dalam penyelenggaraan Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini dengan total 97% dilaksanakan oleh lembaga pendidikan swasta dan 3% dilaksanakan oleh pemerintah," which translates to, "Private schools are partners in the education delivery, with 97% of Early Childhood Education conducted by private entities and only 3% by the government" (Reported by ANTARA).
During the seminar held on February 19, 2025, at the Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA) and organized with Badan Musyawarah Perguruan Swasta (BMPS), the Deputy Minister elaborated on the necessity for well-established educational institutions, both public and private. He emphasized the commitment to enhancing the quality of education as mandated by the National Education System Law No. 20 of 2003, which aims to deliver quality and equitable education throughout Indonesia.
Latipulhayat discussed new educational policies targeting effective teacher placement and the introduction of the New Student Admission System (SPMB), which is set to replace the previous enrollment processes. This recent change addresses the needs of the educational sector by offering multiple admission pathways. "SPMB bukan semata perkara jalur zonasi, melainkan ada empat jalur yang dapat dipilih peserta didik untuk melanjutkan pendidikan ke jenjang yang lebih tinggi," he noted, meaning "SPMB is not merely about zoning pathways, but rather there are four corridors students can choose from to advance their education" (Reported by ANTARA).
The four admission pathways include residence, affirmation, achievement, and transfer corridors, which aim to broaden student access to educational opportunities. Latipulhayat also highlighted the government's commitment to addressing the needs of teachers across both public and private sectors, stating arrangements will allow for teachers whose placements were finalized under the National Civil Service system to return to their original schools if they previously served within the private framework.
Response from the educational community has been largely positive, with Ki Saur Panjaitan, the Chairman of BMPS, expressing support for the newly implemented ‘Deep Learning’ initiative. He stated the need for comprehensive adoption of these educational policies across all institutions. During the discussion, he acknowledged the importance of the teacher redistribution policy introduced by the government, affirming the positive impact it could have on private schools. "Alhamdulillah sekarang sudah ada kebijakan tentang redistribusi guru, mudah-mudahan pada tingkat implementasinya berjalan sesuai dengan semangat yang ada," he remarked, translating to "Thank God there is now a policy on teacher redistribution, we hope its implementation will align with the intended spirit" (Reported by ANTARA).
Further highlighting the collaboration between educational bodies, Junaidi, the Rector of UNISMA, offered his insights appreciating the strategic policies laid out by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. He commended the government’s initiatives and underscored the collaborative approach being established between institutions. "We are fully prepared to support these reforms and improve the educational framework together," he said, reinforcing the collective commitment to enhancing educational quality.
Both UNISMA and BMPS expressed their readiness to align and contribute to the government’s education policies aimed at fostering quality education, emphasizing the importance of teamwork between private and public education sectors. This collaborative effort is seen as a pathway toward addressing the challenges of quality education and ensuring the needs of all students across Indonesia are met effectively.