Government Policy on Student Admissions in Relation to the New Student Enrollment System from the Perspective of Legal Utility

Sep 5, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn

Research examines Indonesia’s policy shift in student admissions from the Zoning-Based New Student Admission System (PPDB) to the Residence-Based Student Admission System (SPMB) under Ministerial Regulation of Primary and Secondary Education No. 3 of 2025. The transition responds to malpractice such as domicile data falsification, seat trading, illegal levies, and uneven school quality across zones. Using a normative juridical method with statutory and conceptual approaches, the study evaluates the SPMB through justice, legal certainty, and utilitarian usefulness, concluding it improves equity and transparency yet leaves structural challenges unresolved.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Education as a foundation for development

Student admission reforms in Indonesia (PPDB)

Transition to the Residence-Based Student Admission System (SPMB)

Drivers of the reform: irregularities and inequity

Comparative insight: Japan’s zoning model

Legal-philosophical foundation and utilitarian principles

Government Policy on Student Admissionsin Relation to the New Student Enrollment System from the Perspective of Legal Utility Reyhan Arisena Johan 1 􀀍 , Arman Tjoneng2 1 FakultasHukum dan Bisnis Digital, Universitas Kristen Maranatha, Bandung, Indonesia 2 FakultasHukum dan Bisnis Digital, Universitas Kristen Maranatha, Bandung, Indonesia 􀀍 email: [reyhanseven50@gmail.com](reyhanseven50@gmail.com) Received: June 11 , 2025 Revised: June 21 , 2025 Accepted: July 20 , 2025 Published: July 30 , 2025 ABSTRACT This research is motivated by the policy shift in Indonesia’s student admission system from the Zoning-Based New Student AdmissionSystem (PPDB) to the Residence-Based Student Admission System (SPMB), as regulated under Ministerial Regulation of Primary and Secondary Education No. 3 of 2025. This change emerged in response to various forms of malpractice, including falsification of domicile data, seat trading, illegal levies, and disparities in school quality across zones. From a legal perspective, the new policy is examined based on theprinciples of justice, legal certainty, and utilitarian usefulness particularly the principle of “the greatest happiness of the greatest number.” The study employs anormative juridical method with statutory and conceptual approaches, drawing from a literature review of relevant regulations and legal scholarship. The analysis reveals that the Student Admission System (SPMB) has adopted utilitarian principles—subsistence, abundance, security, and equity through the expansion of domicile, affirmative, and achievement admission quotas, as well as the integration of Dapodik (Education Data System) and Dukcapil (Civil Registry) to enhance transparency. However, the system still emphasizes administrative solutions, while structural challenges such as infrastructure inequality, teacher quality, and corrupt mentalities remain unresolved. In conclusion, the Student Admission System (SPMB) represents a transitional legal reform initiative that promises greater equity in access and accountability but has yet to address the root structural problems. It is recommended to strengthen legal sanctions against fraud, accelerate school infrastructure development, implement evidence-based evaluations with public participation, integrate ethical values into policymaking, and promote legal and social ethics literacy programs to reinforce the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Student Admission System (SPMB) . Keywords: Student Admission System (SPMB); utilitarianism; legal usefulness; education; transitional legal reform INTRODUCTION Education represents a fundamental pillar of human development, shaping both individuals and societies. Without education, individuals face limited opportunities for growth and risk social and economic marginalization. In essence, education is a continuous process through which humans cultivate their physical and spiritual potentials according to the values and culture of their community. It can occur within formal (schools), informal (families), or non-formal (community-based) environments (Tilaar, 2012). Each educational stage—from primary to higher education—plays a vital role in developing knowledge, skills, and character, thereby enabling individuals to contribute productively to society (UNESCO, 2023) . Within Indonesia’s education system, student admission policies have undergone several reforms aimed at enhancing fairness, inclusivity, and transparency. The ZoningBased New Student Admission System (PPDB), first introduced in 2016 under Minister Muhadjir Effendy, sought to ensure equitable access to quality education by limiting student placement to designated zones. This policy was legally reinforced through Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 14 of 2018 and later updated by Regulation No. 1 of 2021. However, persistent issues—such as data manipulation, bribery, and unequal school quality between zones—undermined its credibility (

FAQs

What policy change does the research focus on in Indonesia’s student admissions system?

It focuses on the move from the zoning-based PPDB to the residence-based SPMB regulated by Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2025.

Which problems in the zoning-based PPDB motivated the shift to SPMB?

The study highlights malpractice and credibility issues such as falsified domicile data, seat trading, illegal levies, and disparities in school quality across zones.

How does the research evaluate the SPMB from a legal perspective?

It assesses the SPMB using principles of justice, legal certainty, and utilitarian usefulness, including the utilitarian idea of maximizing the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Sep 5, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn