14 Primary Schools with Low Enrolment in Klungkung to be Merged

Fourteen State Primary Schools (SDN) with low student numbers in Klungkung Regency are set to be merged. This regrouping policy is being implemented by the Klungkung Regency Government as an effort to enhance the quality of school management.

The Head of the Klungkung Education, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikpora), I Ketut Sujana, explained that the regrouping plan is already underway. Fourteen primary schools will be consolidated into seven. The plan involves eight schools in the Nusa Penida District and six schools in the Banjarangkan District.

“We are beginning the regrouping of 14 SDNs. This is being done to anticipate central government policies regarding the provision of School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds, which require a minimum of 60 students. Schools below this threshold will not receive BOS, which could subsequently burden the Regional Budget (APBD) and prevent optimal operations,” Sujana stated on Tuesday.

Currently, the primary obstacle to the regrouping effort is resistance from parents and school committees. The merger process is presently in the engagement stage with committees, village governments, and parents. Sujana noted that this approach is crucial, as previous experiences showed that parental objections could delay regrouping for up to two years.

“For the sake of stability and comfort, the ‘Tri Pendidikan’ triad—government, community, and committee—must be involved. We are currently in discussions with the committees and village authorities,” he added.

The schools to be merged in Nusa Penida include SDN 3 Kutampi into SDN 5 Kutampi, SDN 2 Tanglad with SDN 1 Tanglad, SDN 2 Sekartaji with SDN 1 Sekartaji, and SDN 6 Ped with SDN 2 Ped. In the Banjarangkan District, the mergers involve SDN 1 Negari with SDN 3 Negari, SDN 2 Negari with SDN 2 Banjarangkan, and SDN 2 Tihingan with SDN 3 Tihingan.

An observation at SDN 2 Tihingan in Banjarangkan District revealed a significant lack of students. Out of six classes, the total enrolment is only 56 children, with individual class sizes ranging from 6 to 11 students.

The Acting Head of SDN 2 Tihingan, Ni Wayan Ekawati, explained that the merger of SDN 2 Tihingan with SDN 3 Tihingan had been proposed last year but was rejected by parents and the school committee. “Because the parents did not want it, the plan was delayed. Now that it is being proposed again, they will likely disagree,” Ekawati said.

She noted that while the school currently receives BOS funding, if new regulations make it impossible, she will defer the decision to the parents who are concerned about the increased distance to the new school. However, she remains optimistic that enrolment for the 2026/2027 academic year will increase.