Indonesia Excludes Thousands of Schools from MBG Program, Focuses Aid on 3T Regions

The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has decided to exclude thousands of schools from the "Merdeka Belajar Guru" (MBG) education support program. This measure aims to strengthen support for "3T regions" (frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped areas), which are geographically challenging and lack adequate educational services. The MBG program was introduced to support teachers' learning freedom and improve the quality of education. However, the government appears to have determined that concentrating limited resources in the areas most in need will create a greater impact. This exclusion of schools is believed to reflect the government's stance on pursuing efficiency and fairness in the allocation of educational resources. Focused support for 3T regions is expected to contribute to rectifying educational disparities in these areas. (Additional Context) "3T regions" in Indonesia refer to areas where development is lagging in various aspects, including education, healthcare, and economic activities, due to underdeveloped infrastructure and geographical isolation. Strengthening support for these regions is a crucial challenge in pursuing balanced development across Indonesia. Source: Sindonews