In a significant milestone for Indonesian education, 173,028 prospective students have successfully passed the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP) for 2025, granting them access to higher education at their chosen universities. During a press conference held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Jakarta, Brian Yuliarto, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, expressed his congratulations to the successful candidates.
"We also urge the participants that since this is a selection route based on achievement, those accepted must take this opportunity seriously," said Yuliarto. Out of the total students, 150,547 were accepted into State Universities (PTN) Academic programs, reflecting an impressive acceptance rate of 97.02 percent. Among them, 50,553 students were beneficiaries of the Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah program, aimed at supporting underprivileged students in their pursuit of higher education.
Additionally, 22,481 students were accepted into vocational PTN programs, with an 85.65 percent acceptance rate, which included 9,467 KIP Kuliah recipients. Yuliarto noted the overall acceptance probability was approximately 22 percent, as a significant 776,515 candidates registered for the SNBP this year. He encouraged all students to view their acceptance as the beginning of a new journey in learning.
"For those who did not succeed on this occasion, don’t worry, as there are still various ways to enter your dream PTN, including through the National Selection Based on Test (SNBT) and independent selections," he remarked. This sentiment resonates as the Ministry aims to motivate all students, ensuring a greater push for academic excellence in the future.
Continuing with the enthusiasm surrounding education in Indonesia, the 3rd Ramadan Festival of 2025 is set to take place on Saturday, March 22, organized by the Ministry of Religion in collaboration with the Batu City Education Office and JatimTIMES. The event is seeing a surge of participant registrations, including the notable TK Al-Irsyad Kota Batu, which has sent 21 students to compete across various categories.
Mentari Sulistyaningsih, the Deputy Coordinator of the TK Al-Irsyad Kota Batu Curriculum, highlighted the importance of providing competition experiences for children, stating, "We want to allow our students to gain experience through competitions organized by Kemenag, the Education Office of Batu City, and JatimTIMES." This year, TK Al-Irsyad's participation signifies a continued commitment to enhance students' confidence through creative endeavors.
The festival offers multiple competition categories targeting students from kindergarten to high school, with TK Al-Irsyad participating in the Fashion Show, coloring contest, tartil contest, tahfidz contest, and da'i cilik contest. Sulistyaningsih noted the school's previous successes in similar contests and expressed optimism about their performance: "Hopefully, we can show our talents and gain recognition in these competitions."
Preparation for the festival has begun in earnest, with students practicing since receiving competition information through social media. Parents are also actively involved in the preparations to ensure that their children are adequately trained for the competitions. "We hope our students can compete successfully; ultimately, this experience will broaden their horizons and instill confidence to perform outside their usual environment," she added.
On another educational front, the results of the Education Report indicate a mixed evaluation of Indonesia’s education quality, revealing room for improvement. Released by Toni Toharudin, the Plt Head of the Education Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment Agency (BSKAP) during a media briefing, the report demonstrates that while more than half of educational units have achieved a good rating in character development, there has been a noted decrease in some indicators.
According to the report, over 75 percent of educational institutions rated positively on the climate security indicator, but a shift in student awareness has led to increased reports of violence, highlighting an area that needs attention and improvement. Toharudin emphasized the necessity for local governments to utilize this report for data-driven planning, as more than half have begun engaging with it to enhance educational standards within their regions.
Moreover, there is a marked rise in vocational schools rated positively regarding job satisfaction among graduates, even as the absorption levels of these graduates have seen a slight decline. Vice Chairman of Commission X DPR, Himmatul Aliyah, acknowledged that while the report reflects positive aspects, there’s a consensus that further efforts are necessary to elevate education quality.
"This evaluation reflects last year's efforts, and we hope that with the new ministerial leadership, we will steer the Education Report towards a more favorable direction in the future," she commented. Teachers, like Asep Solihin from SMA Al Muttaqin Kota Tasikmalaya, have found the report beneficial as well. He noted that the report serves as a promotional tool for attracting new students, enhancing community awareness of the school’s quality.
In conclusion, as Indonesia’s educational landscape evolves with initiatives like the SNBP, the Ramadan Festival, and ongoing assessments through the Education Report, there is a shared sense of accountability and hope among educators, students, and policymakers to continue striving for quality, inclusivity, and creativity in the nation's future generations.
