State schools see dwindling enrollment as academic year kicks off - Society - The Jakarta Post

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As students return to school for the 2026/2027 academic year that started on July 13, state elementary schools in several regions have reported low enrollment. Some have enrolled as few as three new pupils, while others have no new pupils at all.

A teacher teaches a new pupil during a school orientation program at SD Cepokosawit II state elementary school in Boyolali, Central Java, on July 13, 2026. The Boyolali Education Agency is discussing a plan to merge the school with others that have seen low enrollment during this academic year to maintain the quality of education. (Antara/Mohammad Ayudha)

Fewer students have enrolled at state schools across the country for the upcoming academic year, a trend attributed to parents’ lack of confidence in the public education system, as well as a shrinking school-age population.As students return to school for the 2026/2027 academic year that started on July 13, state elementary schools in several regions have reported low enrollment. Some have enrolled as few as three new pupils, while others have no new pupils at all.