A 12.6% increase in elementary school fees could burden low-income parents

Primary school (SD) education in Indonesia is essentially free, as long as the child can afford to attend a public elementary school. So what about children who cannot afford public elementary schools?

Primary State School students playing in the school yard during morning recess, Semarang July 2025. Photo curtesy: Bintang Alam Mahardhika.

LISTEN TO

Kenaikan biaya Sekolah Dasar 12,6% dapat membebani orang tua murid yang kurang mampu

SBS Indonesian

16:07Indonesian

SBS Indonesian spoke with Bintang Alam Mahardhika, a parent in Semarang, whose child is in fifth grade. He explained that starting July 2025, tuition fees will increase by 12.6% for those attending private schools.

Parents enroll their children in private schools simple because the State Schools cannot accommodate them.  Or the parents really want their children to go to a particular school that they think is better.According to Bintang, the 12.6% increase is quite high for parents with limited financial resources, especially when compared to the increase in parents' salaries.  

Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 3 pm.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to our podcasts.