Poverty as a Structural Barrier to Educational Equity in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70716/emis.v2i2.291Keywords:
poverty, educational equity, structural barriers, IndonesiaAbstract
Poverty remains a fundamental structural barrier to achieving educational equity in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze how poverty affects access, participation, and the quality of education among low-income communities. Using a qualitative descriptive approach through literature review, the research identifies that economic hardship, inadequate infrastructure, limited digital access, and psychosocial stress significantly hinder educational opportunities for the poor. The findings reveal that poverty perpetuates intergenerational inequality by restricting learning opportunities and reducing human capital quality. The study concludes that inclusive educational reform, integrated with poverty alleviation policies and equitable resource distribution, is essential to breaking the cycle of deprivation and ensuring fair educational opportunities for all.
References
Aini, N., & Islamy, A. (2021). Poverty and access to education: A socio-economic analysis in rural Indonesia. Journal of Social and Economic Development, 12(2), 145–158.
Agus Triono, T., & Sangaji, R. C. (2023). Factors influencing poverty levels in Indonesia: A literature study on BPS 2022 data. Journal of Society Bridge, 1(1), 59–67. https://doi.org/10.59012/jsb.v1i1.5
Betthäuser, B. A., Bach-Mortensen, A. M., & Engzell, P. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Human Behaviour, 7(3), 375–385. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01506-4
Brief, L. P. (2022). Tor to highlight the learning crisis. World Bank Learning Poverty Report, June.
Collins, S. P., Storrow, A., Liu, D., Jenkins, C. A., Miller, K. F., Kampe, C., & Butler, J. (2021). The government’s role in providing educational access to the poor in Malang City. Journal of Educational Policy Studies, 4(2), 167–186.
Haq, I., Djuniarsah, M., Jalan, A., Tapa, K., & Barat, J. (2025). The effect of poverty on education in Semarang City, Indonesia (2020–2024). Journal of Urban Socioeconomics, 3(1), 1–15.
Maba, W., Widiastuti, I. A. M. S., Mantra, I. B. N., Suartama, I. K., & Sukanadi, N. L. (2023). Learning loss: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ psychosocial conditions. Journal of Education and E-Learning Research, 10(2), 209–214. https://doi.org/10.20448/jeelr.v10i2.4543
Maddawin, A., Morgan, P., Park, A., Suryadarma, D., Long, T. Q., & Vandenberg, P. (2024). Learning disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from household surveys in Southeast Asia. International Journal of Educational Development, 107, 103053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2024.103053
Maharani, C., Ningrum, D. A., Fatmawati, A. E., & Fadilla, A. (2024). Poverty and educational quality in Indonesia: Effective policy recommendations. Journal of Macroeconomics and Social Development, 1(3), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.47134/jmsd.v1i3.199
Rofi’i, Y. U. (2024). Rural poverty and school participation rates in Indonesia. Jurnal EMT KITA, 8(2), 783–791. https://doi.org/10.35870/emt.v8i2.2446
Togatorop, R. S., Sinaga, M. H. P., Putri, N. A., Hafifah, R., & Nuraina, A. L. (2024). The impact of education level on poverty in North Sumatra (2017–2021). Jurnal Simki Economic, 7(2), 380–389. https://doi.org/10.29407/jse.v7i2.660
Wardani, A., & Ayriza, Y. (2020). Parental challenges in assisting children’s learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jurnal Obsesi: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 5(1), 772–781. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v5i1.705
Waruwu, M. (2024). Qualitative research approaches: Concepts, procedures, and applications in education. Journal of Educational Methodology, 5(2), 198–211.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rabiatul Alya, Veronika Tiara, Fransiska Liska, M Zainul Hafizi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
