DPR Speaker Puan Maharani Calls for Evaluation as State Schools Face Student Shortages

House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has called on the government, through relevant ministries, to immediately evaluate and reorganise education services. This request comes in response to the widespread phenomenon of state schools experiencing a shortage of students in various regions for the 2026/2027 academic year. Puan emphasised the importance of the government thoroughly mapping the causes of this phenomenon before taking action, ensuring that any policies adopted align with realities on the ground. “We need to determine whether this is a general symptom occurring nationally or merely a case-by-case situation in certain areas. Identifying the problem is necessary so that the handling matches what is actually happening,” she stated in Jakarta on Wednesday. According to Puan, several factors have triggered the low student enrolment, including a decline in the number of school-age children, population movement or migration, a distribution of schools that no longer matches residential developments, and a decrease in public trust in the quality of state school services. She argued that the government cannot apply a uniform policy across all regions. The approach must consider the characteristics of each area to ensure that every child’s right to education remains fulfilled. Puan further encouraged the government to immediately compile a national map of educational unit needs based on villages and sub-districts. This map should integrate data on the number of school-age children, birth trends, residential developments, school capacity, travel distances, and population projections for at least the next ten years. “This map must serve as the basis for determining which schools need revitalisation, which should be developed into reference schools, which should be merged, or which should be maintained due to their strategic role,” she explained. Puan also reminded that any efficiency policy must not sacrifice children’s rights. If a school merger becomes the last resort, the government is obliged to ensure the availability of safe school transportation for students. The student shortage crisis has been observed in several areas. At SD Negeri Purwoyoso 01 in Semarang City, Central Java, the school reportedly accepted only three new students for the 2026/2027 academic year. Meanwhile, in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, around 60 schools were still short of students by the end of the New Student Admission System (SPMB) period.