Nilai Ekonomi Pendidikan Menengah: Temuan Dari Data Susenas 2001

Continuing to expand the middle level education is partly as an objective of education policy to fulfill equity in developing countries, like in Indonesia. The quantitative objective of equity is already stated in the long-term development plan of education- where at least 80% of younger age population aged from 16-18 years are enrolled in middle level education- levels of education are for general and vocational objectives. To meet the equity objectives of the development plan, the number of general and vocational schooling has growing very fast throughout the country. The question is that whether in the labor market, the returns of schooling were predictable, and whether these signals ware taken as a consideration as the basis to expand the expansion of education. According to available evidences from the developed countries studies, returned to schooling of middle levels is quite low. The Mincerian Hypothesis will be used to observe the returns to schooling based on the Susenas 2001 with the sample data West Sumatera. The data shows that the returns to middle level education are relatively low –ranges from 4-17%. Vocational school graduates much higher than these general school graduates. Female graduates were also higher their return to schooling then their male counterparts. The implication of this study is discussed.