Legal Interventions in Education Access: Ensuring Equal Opportunities for Marginalized Children

Abstract

Introduction: Access to quality education remains a challenge for marginalized children in Indonesia, especially those from low-income or rural backgrounds, and ethnic minorities. Legal barriers, social inequality, and limited infrastructure exacerbate the problem, denying children their right to education.
Purpose: This paper investigates the role of legal interventions in promoting equal access to education for marginalized children, focusing on the legal measures that have been implemented to address education inequality.
Method: The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with education officials, legal experts, and advocacy organizations, as well as a review of relevant legal policies and case studies from Indonesia.
Findings and Results: The study finds that legal interventions, such as the implementation of free education laws, affirmative action policies, and advocacy for the rights of marginalized children, have had positive impacts on educational access. However, there are still significant barriers, including the quality of education and infrastructural challenges in remote areas.
Urgency: With education being a fundamental right, the exclusion of marginalized children from the education system leads to intergenerational cycles of poverty and inequality. Urgent action is needed to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality education.
Contribution: This paper contributes to understanding how legal reforms can address systemic inequalities in education access.
Recommendation: The paper recommends increasing legal advocacy for marginalized children, ensuring better implementation of education policies, and expanding legal aid programs that focus on education rights.