Suboptimal Student-Teacher Ratio in Vocational High Schools

One indicator of equitable distribution of education facilities and infrastructure is the student-teacher ratio. A higher ratio indicates a decrease in teacher supervision and attention to students, leading to a tendency towards lower teaching quality.

Article 17 of Government Regulation Number 74 of 2008 concerning Teachers states that at the elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels, ideally one teacher is responsible for 20 students. Meanwhile, at the vocational high school level, ideally one teacher is responsible for 15 students.

According to a report by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the highest student-teacher ratio in the 2020/2021 academic year was at the Vocational High School (SMK) level, at 16. This means that one teacher (including the headmaster) is responsible for teaching 16 students, exceeding the ideal ratio and indicating an imbalance.

The student-teacher ratio at the Senior High School (SMA) and Elementary School (SD) levels is the same, at 15. Meanwhile, the student-teacher ratio at the Junior High School (SMP) level is 14.

Article 17 of Government Regulation Number 74 of 2008 concerning Teachers states that at the elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels, ideally one teacher is responsible for 20 students. Meanwhile, at the vocational high school level, ideally one teacher is responsible for 15 students.

The student-teacher ratio is not the sole determinant of the success of the teaching and learning process. The skills and experience of educators must also be considered, as skilled and experienced educators are better able to handle larger classes.

(Read More: [Number of Qualified Teachers in Indonesia Increased by 9.60% in the 2020/2021 Academic Year](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2021/11/26/jumlah-guru-layak-mengajar-di-indonesia-naik-960-pada-tahun-ajaran-20202021))