Private Schools Feel Excluded, Deem West Java's 2026 SPMB Chaotic and Overly Complicated
Private school owners affiliated with the West Java Private Schools Consultative Body (BMPS) have assessed that the implementation of the 2026 new student admissions selection (SPMB) is more complicated and chaotic compared to 2025. They also claim they have never been involved in any policy planning for the SPMB’s execution.
“Yes, it’s the most complicated, the most chaotic. This year is the most chaotic. Last year was chaotic, this year is even more chaotic,” said BMPS West Java Chairman Agus Sriyanta alongside fellow board members at the BMPS West Java office in Bandung on Wednesday (17/7/2026).
He explained that a dozen private senior high schools (SMA) and vocational high schools (SMK) were engaged by the West Java Provincial Government as Private School Partners (SSK) under the Maung programme. These students receive a monthly tuition subsidy of Rp 100,000 and a one-off education development contribution (DSP) of Rp 1.5 million.
However, Agus considers these funds unreasonable for private schools, as they are insufficient to cover operational costs, especially since the provincial government has requested that schools not collect any additional fees from students. Consequently, he has received information that several partner schools have chosen to withdraw.
“We at BMPS highlight the government’s contribution regarding this SSK, namely the DSP of Rp 1.5 million and the monthly tuition of Rp 100,000. In our view, this is highly irrelevant,” he stated. He noted that private school operational costs are very high, and Rp 100,000 multiplied by 12 months—totalling Rp 1.2 million—will not meet their needs. All manner of operations are fully borne by the school.
“Now, what about the Rp 100,000 monthly tuition when we cannot collect any more fees? If I’m not mistaken, there was information yesterday that with the Rp 1.5 million DSP and Rp 100,000 monthly tuition, schools are not permitted to collect additional charges. We very, very much reject this. If there are any that accept it, perhaps they are exceptions,” he asserted.
His organisation was also not involved in the cooperation agreement made by the West Java Education Office (Disdik) with 751 private schools in West Java some time ago. He stressed that no private schools have yet cooperated on that matter. “We at BMPS declare that this is still a hoax. It is not true, because we have the data. If those 700 schools exist, please show them to the public, not to us. Show the public which schools among those 700 private schools have already cooperated with the government,” he said.
Given the chaotic and complicated SPMB implementation, he said the public is left confused and without certainty. “So those wanting to enrol in state schools become hesitant and uncertain, and those wanting to enrol in private schools also become hesitant and uncertain because the options are not definite,” he added.
He also mentioned receiving reports that some state schools have classes with more than 46 students. His team is currently investigating and verifying this information. Agus hopes the SPMB issues will be resolved before the new academic year begins. He also confirmed that private schools in West Java are ready to accept new students who are not accommodated in state senior high schools. He noted that many private schools still have small class sizes compared to state schools, while some upper-tier private schools have thousands of students. “They have been fighting for education in West Java, because education here is not just about quality, but also about where one lives, which also has an influence,” he concluded.