Student shortage is not only a famous issue in the first-world country. In fact, there are twelve schools in Magelang that face the possibility of being merged into the school merger program. The reason for this enforced merger is that, after the 2026 student admission selection process, the number of new students is below expectations and would not be sufficient to fund the school in the long term.
The head of Magelang City Education and Culture, Nurwiyono Slamet Nugroho, said that most schools receive fewer than 15 new admissions before the registration period closes. Under current regulations, to start a new term, a school should ideally have 28 students.
In this situation, merging schools are the most realistic option.
Did the School Merger Happen Because of the Low Birth Rate or The Educational Competition?
Based on the data by BPS in Magelang, there are 5 to 6 newborns every 1,000 residents in Magelang. The number is quite high considering the total number of residents is 1.3 million. However, if we assess the trend overall, there is a downward trend in the birth rate in Magelang.
The success of KB (Indonesian Birth Control Program) is the major reason for the downtrend in births in Magelang, which is a logical policy in the face of skyrocketing population growth in Indonesia. However, the decline in the birth rate will affect existing schools. The schools were founded to accommodate the prevailing birth rate at the time. Now, they struggle to cope with the situation.
In Magelang, there are 910 elementary schools, so when 12 schools are at risk of being merged, it is still a manageable risk. Yet, this situation might get worse.
The private sector has been heavily involved in the education business. They have added value to their end products through pricing, but at the same time, parents are willing to pay the price since education is something they consider important.
In the end, the public schools are suffering from this development. Yet it is expected, and the government should have prepared everything, since the possibility of school mergers had been anticipated for several years.
What are the Risks of School Mergers?
Merging schools are not as simple as people mentioned. Human resources is the first concern to be addressed. Due to school mergers, several teachers’ fates should be decided. Whether their contract is restructured or they receive an offer of early retirement. In this situation, educators are struggling to make ends meet. This development is something that they are worried about.
Moreover, several assets like buildings and land are yet to be decided. When the school merger happens, people do not need many buildings. So, the purpose of the buildings needs to be altered. Yet school buildings are designed specifically for classrooms and other educational purposes. To alter the building’s function, a large budget is needed; this will become another challenge for the educational office in Magelang.
Finally, there is an issue of students’ domicile. If the schools are merged, transportation issues may arise among students. The parents are reluctant to move their children to the newly formed school. This will bring another issue.
In the end, small-scale school mergers might run, but for a long period, the government should find a better solution to ensure the transformation proceeds smoothly, treating every actor who has dedicated their life to education in Magelang as humanely as possible. Education should bring happiness and prosperity for everybody. Without clear preparation for every actor, we might open a new chance of turmoil that will impact education in negative ways, failing to promote a constructive system for
