2,036 Children in Denpasar Out of School, Some Drop Out and Do Not Continue

The number of out-of-school children (ATS) in Denpasar, Bali, reaches 2,036 individuals. This data was revealed by the Denpasar Education, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikpora) according to the integrated Out-of-School Children Data Management System of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen). “When talking about out-of-school children, the components include the number of dropouts (DO) and graduates who do not continue (LTM),” explained the Head of the Early Childhood Education (PAUD) and Non-Formal Education (PNF) Division of Disdikpora Denpasar, I Nyoman Handika, when interviewed by detikBali on Wednesday (6/5/2026). The number of ATS in the dropout (DO) category is recorded at 1,111 children. The three highest numbers come from grade 11 (283 children), followed by grade 10 (169 children), and grade 8 (142 children). Meanwhile, the ATS in the graduates who do not continue (LTM) category consists of 301 children from grade 6 and 624 children from grade 9. “Because ATS focuses on school-age children from primary school to high school levels in line with the government’s priority programme, namely 13 years of compulsory education, which consists of 1 year pre-primary (PAUD), primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary. So, high school graduates who do not continue are not included in the government dashboard,” stated Handika. Denpasar Selatan sub-district records the highest number of ATS in the DO category, namely 396 children. Meanwhile, the highest number of ATS in the LTM category is in Denpasar Barat sub-district with 295 children. “So after taking office, I monitor together with colleagues. We are also part of that team; this is what we’ve monitored over the last two years. There is a possibility that the data is not yet updated, and we haven’t contacted the ministry yet,” said Handika. Handika explained that one of the challenges in conducting data collection is the difficulty in the tracking process. He found many residents in Denpasar who no longer reside in the area but have not changed their residency status. In total, there are 1,103 ATS due to DO, and 453 of them have been verified. As for ATS due to LTM, there are 932 children, and 486 of them have been verified. “I think all those factors could potentially be indicators. Various things, students change domicile but their residency is still in Denpasar and not detected as continuing from their NISN data. There are also issues of bad associations, health conditions, migration, and non-permanent residents,” revealed Handika. “Social problems such as lack of motivation, juvenile delinquency, and also found due to early marriage. We also found economic factors. So there are many factors that we have to identify in the field. This is also caused by high population mobility,” continued Handika. The next target for Disdikpora Denpasar, stated Handika, is to conduct field verification first for resident recording by collaborating with local villages/sub-districts as well as the Denpasar Civil Registry and Population Office (Disdukcapil). Subsequently, various efforts will be made to return children to education, either through formal or non-formal channels. “We certainly hope that the children return to formal school if possible for the requirements,” said Handika. Nevertheless, Disdikpora Denpasar also has solutions if children can no longer return to formal education, namely to Non-Formal Education Units (SPNF) that offer packages A, B, and C. “We have SKB SPNF and 17 Community Learning Centres (PKBM) in Denpasar that are ready to accommodate ATS who face obstacles in formal education and make other institutions as an option to continue education because they feel more suitable,” stated Handika.