Jakarta – The revision of Law Number 20 of 2003 concerning the National Education System (UU Sisdiknas) which is currently being discussed in the DPR is a breath of fresh air for efforts to accelerate equality and improve the quality of education in Indonesia. The RUU Sisdiknas has received serious attention from the government as part of a major reform in the world of national education.
Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen), Prof. Atip Latipulhayat, stated that the revision of this law is an important step in fulfilling the constitutional mandate to organize an integrated national education system. So far, the implementation of the National Education System Law has tended to be limited to primary and secondary education. Meanwhile, higher education, teachers and lecturers, and religious-based education are regulated through different laws.
“The scattering of education regulations in various laws has caused fragmentation. Therefore, we agree on codification as a national education system. We will codify all education laws, at least those that are directly related,” said Atip.
This codification will cover four main laws, namely Law 20/2003 on the National Education System, Law 12/2012 on Higher Education, Law 14/2005 on Teachers and Lecturers, and Law 18/2019 on Islamic Boarding Schools.
“This step will eliminate overlapping policies and create a more complete and harmonious legal framework in the implementation of national education,” he added.
From the legislative side, Chairwoman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives and Chairwoman of the Working Committee (Panja) of the National Education System Bill, Hetifah Sjaifudian, emphasized that the discussion of this bill continues to move forward. She considered the revision of the National Education System Law not merely an administrative technical effort, but a strategic agenda to ensure that the national education system is more inclusive, responsive, and adaptive to the needs of the times.
“This revision is not just technical, but concerns the future of the Indonesian generation. We want to ensure that every Indonesian child, whether in public or private schools, in cities or remote areas, gets the right to fair and quality education,” said Hetifah.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) also highlighted the substance of the National Education System Bill, especially after the Constitutional Court (MK) ruling requiring the state to provide free basic education. KPAI Commissioner Aris Adi Leksono encouraged the substance of the MK ruling to be clearly accommodated in the National Education System Bill.
“If necessary, there should be an article that regulates the distribution of education funding by the central and regional governments, so that there is no overlapping of responsibilities and can guarantee children’s rights to free education,” said Aris.
The revision of the National Education System Law through this codification approach is expected to be the starting point for a comprehensive renewal of the Indonesian education system. With a strong, integrated, and progressive legal umbrella, the government and the DPR hope that national education can be more equitable, of higher quality, and able to answer future challenges. [-red]
