Education Gap in West Java: Do Rural Children Have Equal Opportunities?

Equitable access to education is one of the important pillars in moving a region forward. Education not only opens up opportunities for individuals to develop, but also plays a crucial role in improving the social and economic welfare of the community. In West Java, despite various efforts made by the government, the gap in access to education between rural and urban areas is still a significant problem. This gap is not only evident in the number of schools but also in the quality of teachers and educational resources available.

This gap in access to education is one of the factors that exacerbate social inequality. While children in urban areas have better access to facilities and quality teachers, children in rural areas are often left behind due to limited resources. Therefore, this paper will further discuss the causes of the education gap, its impact on society and the steps that can be taken to reduce the gap.

One tangible form of disparity in access to education can be seen in the distribution of the number of schools. Based on data from the West Java Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), there is a stark difference in the number of schools between urban and rural areas. In big cities like Bandung, access to educational facilities is relatively easy, with many elementary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools. Meanwhile, in rural areas such as Garut or Tasikmalaya, the number of schools is still very limited, so children there often have to travel long distances to get to school.

According to BPS in 2023, the number of primary schools in urban areas will reach more than 5,000 units, while in rural areas there will only be around 3,000 units. This disparity is sharper at the junior and senior high school levels, where in rural areas, many sub-districts have only one secondary school. The lack of education facilities in rural areas not only exacerbates the gap in access to education, but also hinders the opportunity for children in rural areas to continue to higher levels of education.

The Gross Enrollment Rate (APK) is also an important indicator in looking at the education gap between rural and urban areas. BPS data for 2022 shows that the junior high school APK in urban areas of West Java reached 97.5%, while in rural areas, this figure was lower, at around 85%. An even bigger difference occurs at the senior high school level, where the APK in urban areas reaches 88.5%, while in rural areas it is only 70.4%. This gap reflects how children in rural areas are more prone to dropping out of school or not continuing to higher levels of education, mainly due to economic constraints and difficult access.

Besides the number of schools and APK, the quality of education is also a major issue that exacerbates disparities. The quality of teachers in rural areas is often lower than in urban areas. BPS data shows that by 2023, only around 40% of teachers in rural schools will have professional certification, while in urban areas, this figure reaches more than 70%. In addition, education facilities in rural areas tend to be inadequate, with many schools lacking access to technology such as computers or the internet that could support a more modern learning process.

Some of the main factors that contribute to the education gap between rural and urban areas include economic factors, infrastructure and the distribution of teaching staff.

Economic Factors: Areas with high levels of poverty tend to have lower access to education. Families living below the poverty line often cannot afford to pay for their children's education up to a higher level, or sometimes even prioritize working over schooling.
Infrastructure and Transportation: One of the biggest constraints in rural areas is physical access to schools. Poor roads and long distances often discourage or make it difficult for children to get to school. This problem is exacerbated when transportation infrastructure is inadequate.
Distribution of Teaching Staff: In rural areas, there is often a shortage of teachers which affects the quality of education. Qualified teachers prefer to teach in urban areas due to better facilities and higher salaries, so rural schools often struggle to find competent teachers.

The disparity in access to education in West Java, especially between rural and urban areas, remains an urgent issue to resolve. The government needs to work harder to improve infrastructure, improve the quality of teaching staff, and utilize technology to reduce this gap. With consistent efforts, it is hoped that more equitable access to education can be achieved, so that every child in West Java, both in urban and rural areas, has the same opportunity to achieve a better future.