Fulfillment of Children's Right to Learn Outside Formal Education is Still Hampered

Education outside of school plays a role in serving children's educational rights. However, its implementation experienced discrimination.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A teacher is teaching students pursuing Package B at the JICT Learning House in the Koja area of North Jakarta on Monday (3/6/2023). The students pursuing this package come from various backgrounds. Some dropped out of school due to financial difficulties, while others fell victim to bullying in formal schools or were expelled for a mistake or for being in conflict with the law.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Fulfilling the right to education for Indonesian children can be realized through formal, non-formal and informal education channels. This provides space for the realization of inclusive education to achieve education for all. However, often in the name of bureaucracy, recognized education favors formal education.

Secretary General of the Indonesian Home School and Alternative Education (Asah Pena) Association Anastasia Rima Hendrarini in Jakarta, Thursday (18/4/2024), stated that the perpetrators non-formal education and informal education which also serves school-age children are now concerned about the provision of standard facilities and infrastructure for primary and secondary education.

The provision is regulated in the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation (Permendikbudristek) Number 22 of 2023 concerning the Standards of Facilities and Infrastructure for Elementary and Secondary Education.

Also read: The role of non-formal and informal education should not be overlooked

In fact, previously the government demonstrated standards for regulated facilities and infrastructure in the form of a child-friendly concept and a focus on safety.

"However, we assess that this new Permendikbudristek sets a standard of facilities applicable to formal, non-formal, and informal education. The prerequisite for the classroom space mentions that each child needs two square meters. The land and building area must also be adjusted to the number of students," he said.

According to Anastasia, it is impossible to fulfill this requirement for all Community Learning Centers (PKBM) that provide non-formal education. However, in Education and Culture Ministerial Regulation Number 119 of 2014, it is stated that distance education (PJJ) is an open school.

The issue also emerged during the opening of the Month of Education for All in April-May 2024, initiated by the Education for Intellectuals working together with Asah Pena Indonesia, the Indonesian Child Protection Agency (LPAI), and the Association of Education Concerned Families (Kerlip) in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/4/2024).

The chairman of Asah Pena Indonesia, Seto Mulyadi, stressed that the government must protect children, including their right to education so that it is not taken away in the name of bureaucracy or policies. Children who attend non-formal education should have the freedom to learn without being bound by rules concerning the size of the learning space.

"The rights of children should not be taken away just because policymakers have never experienced the true practice of independent learning. Learning can take place anywhere, anytime, with anyone," said Seto.

Several students in non-formal education were accepted at Harvard University and various leading universities after passing the Package C equivalency exam. There is also a deaf person, namely Dewi Yul's son, who graduated summa cum laude at a leading university abroad.

The right of children should not be taken away just because policymakers have never experienced true independent learning. Learning can take place anywhere, anytime, and with anyone.

According to Anastasia, the policy regarding non-formal education facilities and infrastructure that must follow formal education is an extraordinary setback. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, children are learning from a distance. This means that education held flexibly at home or outside of school buildings can still provide quality learning services for children.

Barriers to non-formal education

Several organizers of non-formal education centers who attended the inclusivity discussion conveyed some obstacles in carrying out non-formal education, especially providing education services for marginalized groups.

Yanti Sriyulianti, the founder of Kerlip, explained that the availability of infrastructure which is proportional to the number of students and administrative facilities is a prerequisite for managing the extension of operational permits for PKBM.

In addition, the obligation to register operational permits every two years is very burdensome for PKBM managers, especially those that focus on providing education services for marginalized children. This is because "extra grease" is always needed in its management.

"Marginalized children find it difficult to fulfill the requirements for a population registration number or NIK, birth certificate, Family Card, legalized diploma, and report. Meanwhile, the services seem to lack close coordination with the local civil registration and vital statistics office, causing obstacles in fulfilling the right to identity and education. Not to mention the cost of processing," said Yanti.

The limited number of Special Needs Schools (SLB) and their low quality make it difficult for children with disabilities to access education. Efforts by education activists to fulfill the right to education for disabled children through non-formal education are not supported by clear policies.

Also read: Clarify the Governance of Non-formal and Informal Education

ARSIP PKBM SARBINI

The founder and headmaster of Sarbini Community Learning Activity Center (PKBM), Indra Surya Pradana and Ema Hermawati, along with their students, after becoming champions in the District-level Sports and Arts Week (Porseni) in Cianjur.

Several districts or cities do not allow community learning centers (PKBM) to provide special education for children with special needs, even though there are no specific rules prohibiting this. The relevant authorities in the districts or cities impose extremely strict operational permit requirements, such as having a building permit (IMB) and supervision costs for PKBM initiatives.

In addition, the orientation of the local government (education department) has not been focused on fulfilling the rights of children, but rather on achieving regional administrative targets. As a result, PKBM, which accommodates students from outside the area, is considered to not provide a positive contribution to the region as it does not increase the participation rates of local schools.

Anastasia added that non-formal education has a real contribution to overcoming dropouts or not going to school. Therefore, regulations that hinder the handling of children who do not/drop out of school must be rejected.

The implementation of Permendikbud 22/2023 hampers the fulfillment of the right to quality education for 1,538 out-of-school children/dropout children and 539 people with disabilities at PKBM Rumah Kerlip Beriman in Kampar Regency, Riau. Apart from that, 1,200 students at PKBM Generasi Juara Depok and 15 students at PKBM Melati Bangsa Bekasi from Bantar Gebang.

"We will fight so that inclusive education can be realized by optimizing the three educational pathways without discrimination," said Anastasia.

The Month of Action Education for All will be held in April-May 2024. After the inclusion discussion next week, home school education alumni Raka Ibrahim, who now works as a writer, will present his views on whether the Indonesian nation is inclusive.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Educators teaching children with special needs provide speech therapy at the Community Learning Center (PKBM) Cita Kautsar in Penggilingan, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/8/2023). This PKBM combines physiotherapy with group therapy and formal education in the curriculum from kindergarten to elementary school age.

Next, the discussion will discuss the importance of national literacy with Kak Irwan, founder of Adversary Mental Winner (AMP).

The peak of Kreasi Anak Istimewa will take place on May 20, 2024, in Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten. The works of exceptional children will be collected, curated, and auctioned off. Around 50% of the proceeds from their sales will be donated to 539 special needs children who are currently not attending school in Kampar.