Transfer of Management Authority Policy: A Difficult Path to Educational Decentralization Effectiveness (A Case Study in Pesisir Barat Regency, Lampung Province)

Abstract

The success of decentralization of education as a relationship between the central and local governments, as well as between provinces and the regency/city, can be demonstrated in at least two ways: increased public participation and improved educational quality in rural areas. On a larger scale, the effectiveness of education decentralization can be measured by the attainment of national education standards.  Previously, under Regional Government Law No. 32 of 2004, the authority to administer secondary education was delegated to regency/city governments. Nonetheless, secondary education affairs are now under the provincial government's authority following the passage of Law Number 23 concerning Regional Government, which replaced Law Number 32 of 2004. Does the policy on the transfer of authority for secondary education have a beneficial effect on achieving the decentralization of education goals and, in particular, on achieving the eight national education standards? The analysis in this article demonstrates that the theoretical ideals of educational decentralization policy do not always translate into effective results in Pesisir Barat Regency.  The relationship between the central government and the regions, as well as the relationship between the province and the regencies/municipalities, creates a tug of war of interest in the transfer of this authority. Starting with the complexity of the problem of providing education in Pesisir Barat Regency, there are several facts that indicate that transferring the authority to manage secondary education from the district government to the Lampung Provincial Government is a policy that is optimal for resolving problems and should have a positive impact in the form of increased participation and equitable distribution of education quality in accordance with national education standards. However, research findings indicate that strategic dimensions of national educational standards are significantly impacted. They are inconsistent with the ideals underlying the decentralization of authority goal. Finally, transferring secondary education authority is not a perfect idea or policy for the Pesisir Barat Regency (as a typology of the outermost-forward-lagging region), as there are still steep roads to effectively accomplishing its goals in this area.