Lestari Moerdijat: Accurate Data is the Key to Delivering Better Education

The utilisation of the latest and accurate data on out-of-school children is an important step in addressing various obstacles faced by the community in accessing education services. “The availability of the latest data is the initial step to overcome children who face constraints in accessing education services. That data must be immediately followed by concrete actions to address the existing problems,” said Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI Lestari Moerdijat in her written statement on Thursday (9/4). The Data Centre for Technology and Information of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Pusdatin Kemendikdasmen) has innovated by presenting the Out-of-School Children dashboard. That dashboard is capable of mapping accurate and real-time data on the number of children who face constraints in accessing education services, covering categories of out-of-school children (ATS), never schooled (BPB), dropouts (DO), and graduates not continuing (LTM). Based on data as of 1 April 2026, the number of out-of-school children in Indonesia reaches 3,966,858 children. The details are 1,913,633 children who have never been to school, 986,755 children who dropped out, and 1,066,470 children who graduated but did not continue to a higher level. Based on data from the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), around 76% of out-of-school children are caused by economic factors. Lestari encourages the utilisation of the ATS dashboard to be accompanied by targeted interventions, such as education assistance and affirmative programmes in underdeveloped areas. “Data without action is just numbers. The key is cross-sector collaboration so that out-of-school children truly return to school benches,” said Rerie, Lestari’s familiar nickname. Rerie, who is also a member of Commission X of the DPR RI, hopes that data related to children who face constraints in accessing education services can be accessed and utilised by all parties, from district/city education offices to village heads. “With data transparency, the policies that emerge will be more accountable and effective,” emphasised the NasDem Party’s High Council member. With valid data, firmly stated Rerie, we no longer work in the dark. “Now is the time for us to move together, ensuring that not a single child of the nation is left behind from education services,” she concluded.