Implementation of the Poverty Reduction Acceleration Policy in Karawang Regency, Indonesia

Poverty is a serious problem that needs to be urgently overcome because its vulnerability does not only impact the environment but can also affect the resilience of the nation and state. The need to eradicate poverty led to the implementation of Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2014 concerning poverty alleviation acceleration by the Karawang Regency Government. Therefore, this research aims to describe and analyze these policies to boost the economy. Data were collected through observation, documentation, and in-depth interviews with 23 respondents consisting of 3 regulators, 8 implementers, and 12 locals. The results showed that the impact of implementing the policy is in accordance with the addition of educational infrastructure, expansion of access to education, quality education, increase in school participation rates, rise in the expected length of schooling, and increase in literacy rates. The change level in policy implementation includes a decrease in the number of elementary and junior high school teachers with a high school or associate degree and the number of dropouts, an increase in students’ participation rates, and a reduction in the poor population. In conclusion, the policy implementation to accelerate poverty reduction in education positively impacts the rate of change and acceptance of the poor community. However, some implementers are less sympathetic in carrying out their duties. Finally, the optimal policy implementation model for accelerating poverty reduction in the education sector can be constructed by looking at the configuration and collaboration between regulatory actors, implementers, and beneficiaries.

Keywords: Poverty Alleviation; Policy; Implementation