Achieving Sustainable Quality Education Targets: a Case Study in East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Objectives: This article aims to analyze the implementation of education policies designed to introduce quality education and identify barriers at the local level. The study focuses on an elementary school in Probolinggo City, East Java Province, Indonesia, to understand how these policies are being executed and the challenges faced. Methods: Interviews were conducted with various stakeholders, including school representatives, education office officials, and local government authorities. The study utilizes two types of data: primary data collected through interviews and secondary data from existing records and reports. Results: The findings reveal that the implementation of quality education policies at the primary school level is suboptimal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets. This inadequacy is primarily due to weak coordination between education offices and schools. The study highlights that this poor coordination affects the ability to achieve inclusive and equitable quality education and support lifelong learning opportunities for all. Conclusion: The study concludes that the weak working relationship between schools and education offices significantly impacts the sensitivity of education office policies to school needs, thereby hindering the achievement of SDGs at the local level. The results emphasize the need for improved coordination and communication to ensure effective policy implementation. This study contributes to the development of policy implementation theory by providing insights into the sustainable strengthening of educational development strategies and expands theoretical and practical knowledge on local government policy implementation in the context of quality school education in Indonesia under the SDGs framework.