Regional Autonomy and Education Decentralization: Implications and Challenges in the Management of Education in Indonesia

Ahyar Rasyidi, H. Husna

Abstract

Regional autonomy and education decentralization have been strategic policies implemented in Indonesia since the reform era to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of educational services. Through the transfer of authority from the central government to local governments, education management is expected to become more responsive to local needs and better able to encourage community participation in decision-making processes. This policy also aims to accelerate improvements in educational quality through innovation and strengthened local capacity, however, the implementation of regional autonomy in the education sector presents various implications and challenges. Disparities in fiscal capacity and human resources among regions contribute to unequal quality of educational services. In addition, coordination issues between central and local governments, regulatory inconsistencies, and weak oversight systems hinder the realization of accountable and sustainable education governance. Other challenges include the uneven distribution of teachers, limited infrastructure, and differing policy priorities across regions, therefore, strengthening local institutional capacity, harmonizing central and local policies, and establishing effective monitoring and evaluation systems are essential to ensure that education decentralization genuinely contributes to improving national education quality and equity. With synergistic and quality-oriented governance, regional autonomy can serve as a strategic instrument in developing an inclusive and equitable education system in Indonesia

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