Government Policy on Student Admissions in Relation to the New Student Enrollment System from the Perspective of Legal Utility

Abstract

This research is motivated by the policy shift in Indonesia’s student admission system from the Zoning-Based New Student Admission System (PPDB) to the Residence-Based Student Admission System (SPMB), as regulated under Ministerial Regulation of Primary and Secondary Education No. 3 of 2025. This change emerged in response to various forms of malpractice, including falsification of domicile data, seat trading, illegal levies, and disparities in school quality across zones. From a legal perspective, the new policy is examined based on theprinciples of justice, legal certainty, and utilitarian usefulness particularly the principle of “the greatest happiness of the greatest number.” The study employs a normative juridical method with statutory and conceptual approaches, drawing from a literature review of relevant regulations and legal scholarship. The analysis reveals that the Student Admission System (SPMB) has adopted utilitarian principles—subsistence, abundance, security, and equity through the expansion of domicile, affirmative, and achievement admission quotas, as well as the integration of Dapodik (Education Data System) and Dukcapil (Civil Registry) to enhance transparency. However, the system still emphasizes administrative solutions, while structural challenges such as infrastructure inequality, teacher quality, and corrupt mentalities remain unresolved. In conclusion, the Student Admission System (SPMB) represents a transitional legal reform initiative that promises greater equity in access and accountability but has yet to address the root structural problems. It is recommended to strengthen legal sanctions against fraud, accelerate school infrastructure development, implement evidence-based evaluations with public participation, integrate ethical values into policymaking, and promote legal and social ethics literacy programs to reinforce the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Student Admission System (SPMB).