New Student Orientation and Admissions System Designed for Inclusive, Equitable Education

Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has revitalised the spirit of the ‘Friendly MPLS’ (Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah) orientation programme. Over five days, new students are introduced to the school environment and community. Schools conduct talent and interest assessments, internalise character values, and deliver relevant material suited to the students’ educational level and psychological development. Guest speakers, such as medical personnel, police, or psychologists, may be invited to present on topics like drug prevention, traffic safety, the dangers of online gambling, digital civility, and clean and healthy living. To ensure the orientation is friendly and engaging, children are introduced to songs like ‘Tujuh Kebiasaan Anak Indonesia Hebat’, ‘Hari Baru’, and ‘Rukun Sama Teman’. The programme employs a joyful learning approach, which is part of the broader ‘deep learning’ framework alongside mindful and meaningful learning, all aimed at honouring the student and ensuring the orientation is free from all forms of violence or hazing.

Following the orientation, the government is committed to delivering inclusive and equitable education through the Student Admission System (SPMB), regulated by Permendikdasmen Number 3 of 2025. The 2026 SPMB implementation has proceeded without major controversy. The regulation establishes four integrated admission pathways. The domicile pathway is for prospective students residing within the school’s designated area. The affirmation pathway is specifically for students from economically disadvantaged families and those with disabilities, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring no school rejects students with special needs. The achievement pathway accommodates students with academic or non-academic talents, with a new provision in 2026 that considers experience in student organisations, scouts, or similar groups, alongside academic ability test scores. The mutation pathway is for students whose parents have been reassigned to a new area and for the children of teachers registering at the school where their parent works, ensuring they can study close to their parent’s new workplace.

Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti stated the SPMB is designed to be more inclusive, welcoming students from all socio-economic backgrounds, and more equitable, with proportional quotas for each pathway. The policy also demonstrates a commitment to private schools. State schools are required to publicly announce their capacity to prevent off-schedule admissions. Students not accepted into state schools will be distributed to accredited private schools, with the government providing financial assistance sourced from programmes like the Indonesia Pintar Programme (PIP). This strategy serves as an affirmation for private schools, many of which have faced closure due to a lack of new students, and reinforces their role as strategic partners in fulfilling the constitutional mandate to educate the nation.