Private Schools in Purwakarta Face Severe Pupil Shortage

Private schools in Purwakarta Regency have been suffering from a severe shortage of pupils over the past two years. For instance, SMK Taruna Sakti Purwakarta received only five applicants during the 2026/2027 New Student Admissions (PPDB), whilst SMEA Bina Budi enrolled just nine students. M Magfur, Chairman of the SMK Taruna Sakti Foundation, stated that the school remains grateful for the community’s trust and hopes more families will choose the institution in the future. He acknowledged that competition in education, particularly at the vocational level, poses a distinct challenge for private schools, and the foundation will continue striving to improve education quality, services, and graduate competencies to attract prospective students. Education observer Asep Mulyana explained that the decline is influenced by multiple factors, including demographic changes, population movement, and an overly complicated student admissions system. He noted that external factors are the primary cause of reduced pupil numbers, especially at the primary school level, where a falling birth rate—a consequence of successful family planning programmes—has shrunk the school-age population. Asep also highlighted urbanisation, with families relocating from rural to urban areas for work and taking their children with them, leading to enrolment declines in suburban schools. He further pointed to a shift in parental mindset, with some opting to send their children directly to traditional Islamic boarding schools that do not provide formal education. At the senior secondary level, Asep said the number of junior secondary graduates is still sufficient to fill available places, but an imbalance in the distribution of state and private schools, coupled with a strong preference for state schools, remains a problem.