The beginning of the 2026/2027 academic year at SMAN 1 Matangkuli, North Aceh Regency, was marked by unrest among parents. A number of parents complained about the school's policy requiring a sum of money to be paid during this year's re-registration process.
This obligation is suspected to be closely related to the procurement of school attributes and uniforms managed directly by the educational institution. Parents objected because the amount requested reached hundreds of thousands of rupiah, which is considered inconsistent with regulations regarding education costs in public schools.
The practice, which points to an alleged uniform business, is now drawing sharp criticism from the local community. To date, the school has not provided any official clarification regarding the legal basis or the cost determination mechanism complained of by the parents.
This situation has triggered calls for relevant agencies, in this case the Education Office, to immediately conduct an in-depth investigation into SMAN 1 Matangkuli. Transparency in the management of school funds is a primary demand to guarantee fair access to education for all students without exception.
