Education and Regional Development: Overcoming Barriers to Human Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24197/hkndsp09Keywords:
Education; Regional Development; Human Development; East Nusa TenggaraAbstract
Education is a primary driver of regional development; however, significant disparities in human development persist in eastern Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This study examines the structural, socioeconomic, and institutional barriers that hinder human development and explores how the education system and governance practices contribute to addressing these challenges. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates quantitative survey data from 540 respondents, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), and qualitative thematic analysis of stakeholder interviews to assess institutional performance across three dimensions: policy dissemination, value promotion, and training. The findings indicate that unequal access to quality education, limited infrastructure, and economic vulnerability remain major constraints on human development. Institutional weaknesses, including inconsistent policy implementation, weak inter-organizational coordination, and limited professional capacity, further undermine development effectiveness. Nevertheless, emerging education reforms and community-based learning initiatives demonstrate positive impacts on literacy, local skills development, and socioeconomic participation. These results underscore the critical role of a robust education system, coherent governance, and equitable investment in accelerating human development in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and contribute to broader discussions on education-led regional development in resource-constrained contexts
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