West Java PKB Faction Commits to Overseeing SPMB Reform and Pesantren Sustainability

The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction in the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) has affirmed its commitment to overseeing the reform of the New Student Admission System (SPMB) while ensuring the sustainability of support for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) as a vital part of human resource development in West Java. This stance was conveyed by Sidkon Djampi, a member of Commission I of the West Java DPRD from the PKB faction, after reading the PKB Faction’s Recess III Implementation Report for the 2025-2026 Session during a West Java DPRD Plenary Meeting on Tuesday (14/7/2026). Sidkon stated that the recess conducted by all PKB faction members in their respective electoral districts yielded various public aspirations that must be addressed by the West Java Provincial Government. The two most frequently raised issues were access to education through the SPMB and the continuation of support for pesantren. “The recess results show that the public hopes the government will pay serious attention to reforming the SPMB to make it fairer, while also ensuring pesantren continue to receive support as educational institutions that have greatly contributed to building the character of the nation’s generation,” Sidkon said. According to Sidkon, the public welcomed Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2021 on the Facilitation of Pesantren Operations. However, its implementation still needs strengthening so that its benefits are truly felt by pesantren, especially those in remote areas. Many pesantren still face limitations in facilities and infrastructure, requiring sustainable government support. In the education sector, the PKB faction received numerous complaints regarding the implementation of the SPMB. The management system is considered overly complicated, the capacity of state senior high schools and vocational schools is limited, and access to education remains uneven, making it difficult for some members of the public to obtain educational services. This situation is deemed to require immediate improvement so that every child has an equal opportunity to receive a proper education. Therefore, the PKB faction recommends a comprehensive reform of SPMB governance, including the construction of new school units and new classrooms in areas still lacking state schools. Furthermore, the West Java provincial government is urged to maintain support for pesantren through the full implementation of the Regional Regulation on the Facilitation of Pesantren Operations, with proportional and transparent budget allocations. Sidkon stressed that the PKB faction will continue to oversee all public aspirations through its legislative, budgeting, and oversight functions. He believes that quality education and strong pesantren are essential foundations for producing a generation of West Java residents who are both competitive and of strong character. “The PKB faction will ensure that every public aspiration we receive does not merely remain as recess notes but is fought for to become policies that favour the people. Reforming the SPMB and strengthening pesantren must be part of the effort to build a more advanced, just, and civilised West Java,” Sidkon said.