Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Smart Indonesia Program in Supporting the Sustainability of Education for Underprivileged Junior High School Students in Malang City
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) is a national policy instrument designed to ensure the continuity of education for students from underprivileged families. Although this program has been widely implemented, its effectiveness at the educational unit level still requires comprehensive evaluation. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Smart Indonesia Program in supporting the continuity of education for underprivileged junior high school (SMP) students in Malang City. This study uses a qualitative approach with an evaluative design, referring to program effectiveness indicators that include targeting accuracy, adequacy of assistance, timeliness of distribution, and the program's impact on student participation and school sustainability. Data collection techniques were carried out through in-depth interviews with program managers at schools, teachers, parents, and beneficiaries, accompanied by observation and review of supporting documents. Data analysis was carried out interactively through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study indicate that the Smart Indonesia Program in Malang City has generally been effective in helping to alleviate the burden of education costs and prevent the risk of dropping out of school for underprivileged students. However, several obstacles were still found, such as delays in fund distribution, inaccurate targeting of recipients, and limited parental understanding of the mechanism for utilizing assistance. The program's impact on educational sustainability is seen positively through increased student attendance, decreased dropout rates, and increased learning motivation among beneficiaries. This study recommends the need to strengthen coordination between schools, education offices, and funding providers, improve the data collection system for prospective recipients, and increase outreach to parents and students so that the program's benefits can be optimally felt. These findings are expected to be used as considerations in refining the Smart Indonesia Program policy at the regional and national levels.
Institution: Universitas Waskita Dharma
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7127902995