One Year Since Constitutional Court Ruling Demands Free Private School Education

One year ago, on Tuesday, 25 May 2025 at 2.19pm WIB, the Constitutional Court (MK) delivered a ruling that sparked widespread public debate, particularly among parents considering their children’s education.

The Court granted a petition filed by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), Case No. 3/PUU-XXII/2024.

In its ruling, the MK declared Article 34(2) of Act No. 20 of 2003 on the National Education System (Sisdiknas) unconstitutional. The article had stated: ‘The Government and regional governments must guarantee the provision of compulsory education at the basic level without charging fees for both government-run and community-run basic education institutions,’ according to Chief Justice Suhartoyo.

However, the ruling also exempts private schools that do not receive government funding and rely entirely on student fees. ‘It would be unreasonable to compel such institutions to abolish all tuition fees,’ the Court stated.