The Urgency of Eliminating Basic Education Fees in Reducing the School Dropout Rate In Bekasi City (A Study on Government Regulation No. 47 of 2008 on Compulsory Education)

Education is the fundamental pillar guiding a nation's development and serves as an investment for creating quality human resources. Various efforts have been made by the government to improve the quality and equity of education, one of which is the elimination of education costs through the compulsory education program. This study aims to examine the urgency of eliminating basic education fees in reducing dropout rates, focusing on how well the compulsory education program has been implemented. The research method used in this study is empirical legal research, with data analysis based on George C. Edwards III's policy implementation theory (1980), using a sample from one region in Indonesia, namely Bekasi City. The results show that the elimination of basic education fees has not been properly implemented due to the involvement of certain individuals in several schools who hinder the execution of the compulsory education program through uniform costs and other charges explicitly prohibited by existing regulations. Therefore, there is a need for government-led socialization, guidance, and assistance to the community, as well as increased budget allocations for educational aid, more schools, and joint evaluations between the government and society to achieve an effective compulsory education program that reduces dropout rates.