The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) continues to make breakthroughs through the Independent Learning policy. At Merdeka Learning Episode 16, the Ministry of Education and Culture synergized with the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to present a policy of Acceleration and Increasing Funding for Education Units.
In Merdeka Learning Episode 16: Acceleration and Increasing Funding of Education Units, Mendikbudristek Nadiem Anwar Makarim said that this Merdeka Learning episode was an effort to improve the quality of education in the country through the transformation of funding policies.
“We are very happy that in one month we can launch several Merdeka Learning breakthroughs. After last week we launched the Merdeka Curriculum and the independent teaching platform, today’s breakthrough has to do with improving the quality of education in Indonesia through the transformation of funding policies,” said Nadiem at the launch of Merdeka Learning Episode 16 on Tuesday (15/2).
One of the breakthroughs made by the government in 2022 is the use of the ARKAS application system (Application for School Activities and Budget Plans) for education units and MARKAS (ARKAS Management) for the education office. Nadiem said that the use of ARKAS and MARKAS was to improve the management of BOS funds in education units, particularly planning and reporting on the use of BOS funds.
“ARKAS is a single application for schools. He does not need to use other applications. All reporting on BOS funds is integrated with other applications (SIPLah and Dapodik) automatically. So schools and principals don’t have to worry anymore. For the education office, with this single application, MARKAS has also been automatically connected to the SIPD (Regional development information system). So regional planning and budgeting have been integrated with this system,” said Nadiem.
In addition to the use of ARKAS and MARKAS, another breakthrough in Merdeka Learning Episode 16 is the policy of Operational Assistance for the Implementation of Early Childhood Education and equality education (BOP PAUD and BOP equivalence education).
The Ministry of Home Affairs, represented by the Acting Director General of Regional Financial Development Agus Fatoni , appealed to local governments (Pemda) to accelerate the determination and proposal for education unit accounts in the distribution of BOS funds, PAUD BOP, and Equality BOP. As well as reminding the local government to ensure the implementation, control and supervision of the implementation of the ARKAS system goes well.
“We hope that local governments can facilitate the education office, both provincial/district/city and encourage education units to implement budgeting, administration, and reporting on the use of BOS funds using ARKAS,” said Agus.
A number of breakthroughs in School Operational Assistance (BOS) launched by the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2020 have had a positive impact on educational units. These breakthroughs include variations in the value of BOS unit funds according to regional characteristics, policies for direct transfer of BOS to education unit accounts, and flexibility in the use of BOS.
Each region certainly has different characteristics. Therefore, the amount of BOS funds that will be received by the education unit will adjust to conditions in the area. So, there is no inequality in the allocation of BOS funds.
For the direct distribution policy, the BOS funds will be sent directly by the government to the account of the education unit. Disbursing BOS funds directly to the accounts of education units can cut time faster because there is no need to wait for the disbursement of funds from the local government.
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati appreciated the innovation in the policy of channeling funds directly to education units. According to him, this policy can be the answer to the problems that occur when BOS or BOP funds are distributed.
“Of course this improvement is due to the distribution to schools or educational units, with direct distribution providing speed and accuracy where funds can be directly received by each school without any interference, levies, or complex conditions,” said Sri Mulyani.
BOS funds can also be used flexibly by education units. This can increase the autonomy of the education unit in planning and managing BOS funds as needed.
The essence of Merdeka Learning Episode 16: Acceleration and Increasing Funding for Education Units is the collaboration of all parties to support improving the quality of education in the country with effectiveness on the funding side . This collaboration is expected to improve the quality and quality of competitive education in the midst of globalization.