Speaker Puan Calls for Evaluation of Under-Enrolled State Primary Schools

House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has urged the government to evaluate all state primary schools (SDN) that are experiencing a shortage of new students in the current academic year. Puan requested that the government investigate the causes behind the lack of interest in SDNs.

“This evaluation must be carried out comprehensively by the government, and there must be a re-evaluation regarding this matter,” Puan Maharani stated during a press conference following a plenary session at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/7/2026).

Puan further noted that House Commission X had already reported the phenomenon of under-enrolled schools to the DPR leadership. It was also reported that Commission X had requested the relevant ministry to evaluate the situation.

“Whether it is because the distance is too far from residential areas, or because of quality issues, or perhaps because there are simply no pupils, and so forth,” she remarked.

A number of SDNs across various regions are known to be lacking applicants, with only a handful of new students enrolling. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is currently collecting data on the number of SDNs with fewer than 60 pupils.

“The ministry is currently compiling data on schools with fewer than 60 pupils,” Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti told reporters on Friday (17/7).

Mu’ti has discussed this issue with Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian. He indicated that a special meeting would be held to address the low enrolment rates at these SDNs.

“Informally, I have already conveyed the issue of declining primary school student numbers to the Home Affairs Minister. A special meeting will be held to discuss this phenomenon,” the minister said.