Legal Protection of The Right to Education of Street Children Working in Sidoarjo District

Abstract

The phenomenon of street children who are forced to work remains a persistent social issue across various regions in Indonesia, including Sidoarjo Regency. As children are categorized as a protected group under the law, this condition reflects a significant challenge in realizing their fundamental rights—particularly the right to education. This study examines the legal protection of educational rights for working street children in Sidoarjo Regency, focusing on the implementation of Article 8 paragraph 1 of the East Java Governor Regulation Number 33 of 2018. The regulation mandates the provision of guidance and social development programs, which in this case are carried out by the Sidoarjo Regency Social Service in collaboration with the East Java Provincial Social Service through the Youth Development Social Service Unit (UPT PSBR). Employing an empirical legal research method with a qualitative approach, the study gathered descriptive data through field observations and interviews conducted in the central area of Sidoarjo (the Square). The findings indicate that despite existing legal frameworks, many street children continue to face difficulties in accessing education due to both internal (family-related and personal) and external (institutional and policy-related) constraints. These obstacles hinder the optimal fulfillment of their educational rights. The study recommends enhancing cross-sectoral coordination, increasing budget allocation for social services, and implementing more inclusive education programs tailored to the specific conditions of street children.