THE SWEET PROMISE OF ELECTIONS TO EDUCATION IN INDONESIA

Oleh Astri Jelita Rahmawati

(Mahasiswi Jurusan Sastra Inggris UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung)

Education is one of the sectors that is often promised in every political campaign, including in regional head elections (Pilkada). These promises are often used as a tool to attract support from the community. However, in reality, many of these promises are not fulfilled after the leaders are elected.

According to the Chairperson of the Indonesian Postgraduate Student Forum, Sitti Hikmawatty, Tuesday (23/12) in Bandung, in the era of regional autonomy, ahead of regional head elections or general elections, many voiced promises to improve education. The promise is used as the main weapon to attract as many votes as possible. "Usually what is voiced is free education, education equality, and quality smart education," she said in a National Seminar entitled With 20% of the APBN and APBD Education Budget, Poor People Can't Go to School at Graha Kompas West Java.

However, from the experience of previous regional head elections, it turns out that not all promises were kept. Until now, some promises have not been made, especially free education. The ease of education program was only used as a sweetener during the campaign period. Therefore, education circles are expected not to be trapped and just used as political commodities. Education circles must exercise control and continue to collect promises.

The government should be responsible for the promise of improving education. Among them is by realizing the promise of free repairs to the provision of employment opportunities. This is said to increase public interest in studying or learning better.

In addition, Jakarta gubernatorial candidate with serial number 1 Ridwan Kamil offers a number of new promises to the people of Jakarta if he wins the 2024 Pilkada. His promises are related to education issues to the fulfillment of basic family needs.

One of his promises is the formation of a Detective Team to find children in Jakarta who drop out of school.

"I want to make a detective team to find children who drop out of school," he said at the inauguration of Bro RK volunteers in Blok M, South Jakarta, Thursday (10/10/2024).

Ridwan said that he does not want any more children to drop out of school. Especially because they have no money. "Sometimes the dropout is caught where his house is. Sometimes it is not known. Sometimes they become street children, vagrants everywhere," Ridwan Kamil said when met in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta on Friday (11/10/2024). So, by knowing the whereabouts of these children, the government can more easily fulfill their rights. Namely, the right of children to get proper education, he said. But will it be realized?

In addition, Ridwan Kamil also wants to present an application, namely the super app and panic button application. When he served as Governor of West Java, he made a supper app named Sapawarga. However, until now Ridwan has not divulged the name of the super app he designed for Jakarta residents. He said, there will be several features in Sapawarga that will be presented in the Jakarta super app. For example, the "stopper" feature which functions to report bullying cases faced by children at school.

"But, everything is just a fairy tale if I don't win. So, win first," said Ridwan Kamil.

Political promises packaged in the vision and mission of regional head candidates are common and make this important moment a means to attract sympathy and support from the wider community. This is because education policy is often one of the campaign promises carried by regional head candidates. Therefore, we as a society must choose the right regional head, so that there are positive changes in the education system. The relationship between local election promises and local education policy is very close, because the results of local elections have an impact on education policies, budgets and priorities at the local level. Elected regional heads have the authority to set education policies in their areas, including local curricula, education quality improvement programs and inclusion policies so that all children can access education. These policy choices will be a testament to the promises made during the campaign.

In addition, regional heads who are committed to education will seek to support training and development programs for teachers that can improve teaching quality. With this support, it is expected that the quality of teaching can be significantly improved. These programs could include training in innovative teaching methods, improving professional competence and providing skills relevant to students' needs.

Communities tend to elect local leaders who are committed to improving education. After the election, the public has the right to hold them accountable for campaign promises related to education. Regional heads must show concrete results in the education sector to maintain public trust. Pilkada is an important moment, not only for the candidates who use this opportunity to deliver sweet promises, but also for the people who elect leaders they believe can bring positive changes in the education sector. We hope that the promises made during the campaign are actually implemented as expected. The community will certainly wait and according to the realization of these promises if they are not fulfilled.

In conclusion, Pilkada is an important moment that not only influences the selection of regional leaders, but also provides an opportunity for the community to elect individuals who are committed to improving education. The promises made during the campaign must be realized in tangible policies. With effective accountability mechanisms in place, the public can demand the fulfillment of these promises, thereby driving positive change in the education sector and increasing public trust in elected leaders.