Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Ensures 2026 Student Admission System Prioritises Inclusive Principles
Surabaya (ANTARA) - The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Abdul Mu’ti, has ensured that the 2026 Student Admission System (SPMB) will prioritise principles of inclusivity and fairness to expand educational access for all students across various regions in Indonesia.
“SPMB is the student admission system, not the student admission selection. As it is a system, we strive for all students to have learning opportunities, not only in public schools but also in private schools,” said Abdul Mu’ti at SMPN 1 Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday.
He explained that the admission pathways in the 2026 SPMB will still include domicile, achievements, affirmative action, and transfers, as in previous years. However, there will be adjustments to the academic achievement pathway.
For non-academic achievement pathways, the scope will continue to cover sports, arts, and leadership. The scope of leadership will also be expanded, not limited to the Intra-School Student Organisation (OSIS), but also including Pramuka and other student representatives.
Meanwhile, the affirmative action pathway remains intended for students from low-income families and those with special needs, while the transfer pathway is for children following their parents’ job relocations, including educators and education personnel.
Abdul Mu’ti added that the technical arrangements for implementing SPMB will be prepared by local governments, with provincial government authority for upper secondary schools (SMA), vocational secondary schools (SMK), and special needs schools (SLB), and district/city governments for primary schools (SD) and junior secondary schools (SMP).
The government hopes that the 2026 SPMB will not only serve as a student admission mechanism but also as an instrument to realise broader and fairer access to education.
Meanwhile, the Head of the East Java Education Office, Aries Agung Paewai, added that his side has also formed SPMB 2026 Posts to provide information services, consultations, and handling of obstacles during the registration process.
These information and consultation posts are to assist parents or prospective new students if there are any issues.
“We are opening SPMB 2026 Posts in all public schools during school hours, including branch offices across the region and the main post at the East Java Provincial Education Office TIKP,” he said.
Through these opened posts, the public can consult on the appropriate choices so that prospective students do not choose the wrong school according to their academic abilities and also the stages according to the desired pathway.
“The posts are available offline at the Education Office, branch offices, and educational units, as well as online through the official website spmb.jatimprov.go.id,” said Aries.
He emphasised that this year’s SPMB is also strengthened with AI-based services to make it easier for the public to access information quickly, easily, and responsively in accordance with the technical guidelines (juknis).