Bandung Education Agency Bans State Schools from Selling Uniforms

The Bandung City Education Agency (Disdik) has issued a stern warning to all state elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, prohibiting them from selling uniforms to new students. The ban was reinforced following the conclusion of the school orientation period (MPLS).

Head of the Bandung City Education Agency, Asep Saeful Gufron, stated that this policy refers to the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 50 of 2022 and Government Regulation Number 17 of 2010. Under these regulations, the procurement of school uniforms is the full responsibility of parents, giving them the freedom to purchase uniforms outside of the school environment. “I remind you again, there is no policy in schools requiring the purchase of uniforms. Do not direct students to buy them at school; we have instructed all school principals that this is not allowed,” Asep emphasised on Sunday.

He added that parents have the right to refuse if a school mandates the purchase of uniforms or shoes. To assist students from underprivileged families, the government provides aid through the Indonesia Pintar Programme (PIP), which can be used to buy school supplies.

At the provincial level, the West Java administration is planning to reintroduce Education Development Contribution (SPP) fees for state senior high schools and vocational schools. This policy will be based on family welfare levels or desil categories. The Head of the West Java Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Margaretha Ari Anggorowati, explained that the desil system divides society into ten groups, with Desil 1 representing the lowest welfare level and Desil 10 the highest. The classification uses a Proxy Mean Test (PMT) method based on machine learning to predict household consumption levels. “This welfare data is not static and is updated periodically. The public can also update their data independently through the Cek Bansos application or village meetings if their economic conditions change,” Ari noted.

In stark contrast, Ciamis Regency is facing a significant surplus of empty seats in state primary schools. The 2026 New Student Admission (SPMB) process left 8,846 vacant seats at the primary level. SDN 2 Salakaria in Sukadana District reportedly received only one new student this year. Head of the Ciamis Regency Education Agency, Erwan Darmawan, revealed that out of a total capacity of 22,263 seats, only 13,417 students, or approximately 60.27 percent, were enrolled. This means 40 percent of the state primary school quota in Ciamis remains unfilled. “The low occupancy rate in several state primary schools will be a key point for our internal evaluation. Although the digital SPMB system ran smoothly and transparently, this data fluctuation is influenced by verification and the school choices of prospective students,” Erwan explained. In contrast, the occupancy rate for state junior high schools in Ciamis was better, reaching 79.24 percent with 10,311 students enrolled out of a capacity of 13,012 seats.