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

Janu Arlinwibowo; Sri Fajar Martono; Ikhya Ulumudin; Hermanto Waruwu; Yufridawati Yufridawati; Yunita Murdiyaningrum; Gupita Nadindra Fatima; Benjamin Leong Tack Khang

doi:10.21831/reid.v10i2.77035

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

Janu Arlinwibowo, Research Center for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia
Sri Fajar Martono, Research Centre for Education, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia
Ikhya Ulumudin, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia
Hermanto Waruwu, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia
Yufridawati Yufridawati, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia
Yunita Murdiyaningrum, Center of Educational Standards and Policy under Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia
Gupita Nadindra Fatima, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, International College of Semiconductor Technology (ICST), Taiwan, Province of China
Benjamin Leong Tack Khang, International Transnational Education Association, China

10.21831/reid.v10i2.77035

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.

Keywords

school labeling; favorite school; student admission; school zoning

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