Surviving the Enrollment Crisis:Challenges and Strategies of an Early Childhood Education Provider in Lampung

Abstract

This qualitative study examines how a community-based early childhood education (ECE) provider in
Lampung, Indonesia, namely TK Darul Ma’arif, is navigating an ongoing enrollment crisis. Against the backdrop
of nationwide declines in ECE participation and growing competition from free public institutions, the study
investigates the perspectives of four key stakeholders: the principal, a teacher, the institution committee
member, and a representative of the founding family. Using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews
conducted in Bahasa Indonesia and translated into English, four major themes were identified: (1) perceived
causes of enrollment decline, (2) financial and emotional impact, (3) strategies for institutional survival, and (4)
resilience rooted in faith, history, and community. Findings suggest that while the school faces real financial
pressures due to its reliance on tuition-based income, its ability to continue operating stems from non-material
resources such as long-standing community relationships, historical legitimacy, and a deep sense of moral
responsibility among staff and leadership. Participants also described adaptive strategies including door to
door visits around the area, shared budgeting, wide promotion regardless the limited budget, and maintaining
emotional motivation through spiritual and social commitment. The study contributes to the literature on ECE
sustainability by highlighting the importance of relational trust and institutional identity as well as supportive
community in shaping how schools survive in uncertain conditions. It calls for more inclusive and localized
approaches in educational policy that support not only infrastructure but also the cultural and moral
ecosystems sustaining community-based education.