A number of education issues remain in Surakarta City. These had to do with the implementation of zone-based student acceptance, the merdeka (freedom) curricula, and the high number of school dropouts and of people not attending schools. Surakarta City is known as a cultural city and has a development index of 84.41 in 2024, an increase of 0.87 point from the previous year (83.54).

The Human Development Index is one indicator for human development. The higher the number in a given area, the better its achievement in human development. The index is measured on the basis of three development goals – knowledge, ability to read and write, and average school years.

Within this background, MPPS (Community for Education in Surakarta) met Astrid Widayani, the rector of Surakarta University of UNSA, the elected vice major on Tuesday (17/12). An education observer and member of MPPS, Pardoyo introduces himself and says that MPPS was founded in 2005, at a time when Jokowi was the mayor of Surakarta. MPPS did not wish to be politically on the opposite side, it wanted to advocate for education regulation. It proposed Education Aid Program in Surakarta, which was ten adopted by mayor Joko Widodo. They had similar vision in 2010 at a time when so many children dropped out of school. They were troubled by the situation that they aspired for zero-school-dropout in Solo, and it was not easy. This was a significant issue in Surakarta that does not disappear even to this day.

MPPS is actively monitoring progress in education in Surakarta, including with regards to Merdeka curricula. MPPS is highly critical of the dismantling of the zone-system for new students. In a number of media, Pardoyo urges that the government does not dismantle the system totally but to adjust as the situation calls, in combination with the previous system that involves performance, zoning and written test.

Meanwhile, MPPS coordinator, Adi C. Kristiyanto (Yayasan Yaphi) hopes that MPPS can discuss about education in Surakarta with Astrid Widayani, once she is officially the vice mayor. “We, MPPS is a a collection of institution, organisation, communities and individuals who care about education in Surakarta,” says Adi.

With regards to education for all (a key issue), He critisises PPDB for its multi-paths – including affirmation, specifically for people who lack resources, poor, the two paths were called the performance paths in the past. It would be better to prepare regulation for the performance path before it is being used, which spells out the levels - local, regional, internasional. The third is the zoning path, which is developed – shift in parents’/guardians’ task, and affirmation for teacher’s children at local school. Adi expects that this would ensure all children get the rights to education. In reality however, not all children get this right, which contributes to the number of school dropout children and of children not attending school in Surakarta. He hopes that the government will develop a coordination system with local villages as local stakeholders in order to prepare lists of children needing to go to elementary and junior high schools in Surakarta. The data would be critical for the preparation of planning for new students. Such data can then be made available in schools, to ensure that no children should be left behind without school, “No One Left Behind.”

A member of MPPS from Yayasan Kakak, Afiq sayst that 47% of children became victims of bullying during a roadshow to 36 schools in collaboration with the Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning Agency (DP3APPKB). This is despite the fact that Surakarta has already had City Regulation in place (re. Children-Friendly City). The most disturbing thing is that 30% of 4,139 children surveyed during the roadshow experience sexual violence, whether directly through direct unsolicited touch, or online. There are children who reported of being forced to watch pornography on video by their peers, even by their teachers.”This is very sad for the education system,”says Afiq. He hopes that the new vice mayor would collaborate to address this issue, particularly as there is a mismatch between policy and implementation.

Pardoyo reiterates that there must be serious attention and solution to school dropout children and children who do not go to school. The issue could become a time bomb without effective solution. 2024 data suggest that there are 204 children in the two categories. The key challenge is funding. MPPS is also accompanying street children. In 2023, the education agency noted that there were 251 children not going to school in June. In 2024, the number decreased to 114 children.
Astrid, "I prefer to hear the fact regardless that it is painful, rather than the sweet news but unreal."

Astrid Widayani responds positively to what she is facing directly, as education would be increasingly becoming more important in the future. She was a candidate because she worked a lot with and participated in policy-making in the education agency, regarding the roles of education in local development. This is historical as Surakarta has never had a leader with background in education, as most elected leaders were either politicians or business people.

With her expperience as a rector at 36-years of age and active at HIPMI, Kadin and Apindo, Astrid sees that education is not just in class, it is also about community character and roles. Surakarta has long-term development plan, and long-term non-physical issues.

“No doubt that development is a process. Solo is known for its economic activities, and the “task” is to use development to introduce a new way of looking,”says Astrid. She remembers the highlight of her campaign “no one left behind” and her first mission as a vice mayor is education integrated into PASTI Program –Solo Center Of Knowledge – because what Solo has is intangible. There is Solo Center of Knowledge. Solo is also the centre of thinkers,” says Astrid.

She specifically pays attention to the result of Yayasan Kakak research on Bullying, saying that policy makers should have full understanding of the issue and make policy solutions accordingly, because otherwise the issue would become increasingly dire.

Astrid says that there are not many women in education. In the future, bullying may be critical check in community health post, where there should be mental health check as part of basic health services, and in addition, there should be character, faith, emotional, and professional strengthening, in order to make Solo truly inclusive.

“It is in my notes. It is an ongoing issue with the education agency. I prefer to listen to the facts although they may be painful, rather than sweet but unreal news. Let us hope for opportunities for discussion with the new team in the city. Solo will develop synergy with other areas. Then there are Surakarta, Boyolali, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Sraten and Klaten (Subosukowonosraten), after two years, so MPPS should prepare technical program(s), that can be jointly collaborated. I am not a person to sit still, but remember also there are planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (Monev). A culture of reading and writing should be encouraged,” says Astrid. (Ast)