Indonesia public elementary schools see sharp drop in new enrolments

In Pacitan Regency, the local education office reported that two state elementary schools – SD Negeri 1 Sedeng and SD Negeri 1 Sambong – each enrolled only one new student for the 2026/27 school year. Officials said the decline reflects a shrinking population of school‑age children rather than a loss of school quality.

In the city of Semarang, the municipal education department likewise noted a fall in enrolments at public elementary schools, but rejected a link to the government’s “Sekolah Rakyat” program for low‑income families. The department head, M Ahsan, pointed to families shifting to private schools, madrasahs, or other institutions, citing a surplus of kindergarten graduates compared with available slots in public schools. Both offices said they will evaluate individual schools and consider measures such as expanding affirmative‑action quotas and improving facilities.