From User Fees to Fee Free: The Politics of Realising Universal Free Basic Education in Indonesia
基于印度尼西亚的经验,指出全民免费基础教育政策常因政治问题而失败,强调只有赋权支持免费教育的利益集团,才能推动政策落实、问责和打击非法收费。
Abstract Several developing countries have recently introduced policies supporting universal basic free education (UFBE). Experience suggests such policies often fail to increase access and quality of education, and illegal fees are widely prevalent. The literature identifies several reasons including the lack of replacement funding in place of fees and the loss of quality due to overcrowding and subsequent high drop-out rates. This article, using evidence from Indonesia's experience, argues that the underlying problem is political. We suggest that fee-free education is an attainable goal, but only if pro-UFBE interest groups are empowered to influence policy, demand accountability and seek redress against illegal fees.