Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Education watchdog urges review of planned school retention policy
Indonesia’s education watchdog, JPPI, has urged the government to review a plan to hold some pupils back a grade starting in the 2027/2028 school year.
JPPI says repeating a year may not improve learning if teaching methods, teacher support and school conditions stay the same.
It argues that children who struggle with reading or maths may lack quality teaching or suitable learning support, rather than motivation.
JPPI says schools and the education system must also be assessed when pupils do not meet learning goals.
It wants schools to identify learning difficulties early, offer extra help, provide adequate resources and use fair, transparent promotion criteria.
The group also calls for regular communication with parents, while warning that the government must remain responsible for quality education and should study the policy’s effectiveness before applying it nationwide.
Indonesia’s education watchdog JPPI has urged the government to review a planned policy allowing students to repeat a grade before it is introduced nationwide.
The policy is planned for the 2027/2028 school year.
JPPI coordinator Ubaid Matraji said students’ progress should be measured by gains in basic skills, not by how many students repeat a grade.
He warned that repeating a year would not necessarily improve learning if teaching methods, teacher quality and school environments remained unchanged.
JPPI called for early learning support, adequate resources and fair, transparent promotion criteria.
- Who
- The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) and its national coordinator, Ubaid Matraji.
- What
- JPPI urged the government to review the planned policy allowing students to repeat a grade before national implementation.
- When
- The appeal was reported on October 20, 2026. The policy is planned for the 2027/2028 school year.
- Where
- Indonesia.
- Why
- JPPI said the policy’s effectiveness should be assessed and warned that repeating a grade may not address learning problems or improve students’ skills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
JPPI coordinator Ubaid Matraji called on the government to review the planned grade-retention policy.
The policy is planned to take effect.
- Organization
- Jaringan Pemantau Pendidikan Indonesia (JPPI)
- Policy schedule
- 2027/2028 school year
- JPPI coordinator
- Ubaid Matraji
- Proposed assessment focus
- Gains in reading, writing, numeracy and other basic skills
What people are saying
We ask the government to thoroughly examine the effectiveness of this policy before it is implemented nationwide.
The task of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is not to punish learning gaps, but to ensure every child gets the opportunity and support to catch up.
If the learning methods, teacher quality and learning environment remain the same, what guarantees that a child will be smarter after repeating a year?
We must not let the failure of the system be placed on children through this grade-retention policy.