Decentralization and Education Service in Kabupaten Bantul, Indonesia / Desentralisasi dan Pelayanan Pendidikan di Kabupaten Bantul, Indonesia

Penulis/Peneliti : Rosdiana Sijabat (PhD Student, Flinders University, Australia & Lecturer, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)

Bidang Penelitian : Politik Ekonomi dan Kebijakan Publik

Jurnal : 5-8 July 2010

Volume : ASAA 2010

Tahun : 2010

The purpose of this paper is to address what are likely the impacts of decentralization on the education service in Bantul, Jogjakarta Province. This paper is based on a case study on the education services in Bantul. It involves the collection, interpretation, analysis, and description of relevant data on educational reforms, program, as well as local policies by using an explorative research method that utilizes documents, numerical records, official publications, and oral statements based on in-depth interviews.

This study reveals mixed evidences on impacts of the decentralization on the education sector. First, following decentralization, local government obtains flexibility to determine the more appropriate education policies that more fit to the local needs. Second, the school-level actors have greater responsibility and decision-making over school operations as decentralization set up the school-based management (SBM) where the levels of authority is transferred to the school level. It has encouraged schools to be more innovative and independent.

Furthermore, education stakeholders also claim that the quality of education service has increased, due to various factors, among others, decentralization yields a better position for local government to determine strategic plans and educational policies that are better suited to the conditions and the needs of the region.


Keywords: Decentralization; Education; Governance.
JEL Classification: H3, R28.