MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, BLORA – Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Fajar Riza Ul Haq, on Saturday (03/01), called for a more equitable relationship between public and private schools, while warning that increased government support should not weaken the long-standing culture of independence within Muhammadiyah’s educational institutions.
Speaking at an event organized by the Muhammadiyah Regional Board in Blora Regency, the vice minister, emphasized that state assistance must function as an enabler rather than a source of dependency. Although the government has a responsibility to ease regulatory and administrative barriers for private schools, he said, such support should not dilute Muhammadiyah’s ethos of self-reliance.
At present, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is proposing revisions to Law No. 20 of 2003 on the National Education System. The proposal has been submitted to Commission X of the House of Representatives. The revision aims to reinforce Indonesia’s education system by clarifying the constitutional roles, rights and obligations of both public and private schools. As a result, the government hopes to prevent structural imbalances that have often disadvantaged privately managed institutions.
Shared Responsibility, Not Dependency
According to Fajar, the ministry’s core approach centers on inclusive participation. In social terms, he explained, this reflects gotong royong, Indonesia’s tradition of collective cooperation. Meanwhile, in religious language, this reflects ta’awun, or mutual assistance. Therefore, education, he argued, must advance through collaboration rather than competition.
Moreover, he stressed that public and private educational institutions should each carry responsibility for national development. While the state plays a central coordinating role, schools operated by civil society organizations are also expected to contribute actively, both intellectually and socially.
However, Fajar issued a pointed reminder to Muhammadiyah schools. Increased attention from the government, he said, should not cause these institutions to become overly reliant on public funding or policy favors. Instead, they must continue to uphold the principle of being contributors rather than beneficiaries.
“As Muhammadiyah members, we should not promote a mindset of always receiving,” he said. “We must preserve the commitment to giving.”
That spirit, he added, explains why Muhammadiyah’s educational mission has endured for more than 113 years. Despite changing political and economic conditions, the organization has sustained its schools through independence, discipline and community trust.
Ultimately, the ministry envisions a balanced education ecosystem. In this framework, public and private schools move forward together, share responsibility and strengthen national education without eroding their core values. Through cooperation, policy clarity and sustained independence, Indonesia’s education system can grow stronger and more resilient over time. (Bintang Adrian)
