Minimum Education Requirements For Presidential Candidates In The Administration Of State Government

Abstract

This study discusses the relevance of minimum education for presidential candidates, as stipulated in Article 169 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections, focusing on the concept of state capacity. State capacity theory identifies three main elements: extractive, coordinative, and compliance. Higher education is considered important in increasing the capacity of state leaders, especially in dealing with the complexity of leadership tasks. Using juridical-normative research methods, this study conducted an analysis of a number of Indonesian presidents who had undergraduate education backgrounds or higher education levels. The formulation of the problem in this study  is: What is the basis for consideration of the education of presidential candidates at least high school as one of the conditions for candidacy? And the results illustrate the stagnation in related laws and regulations, especially Article 169, which maintains the minimum limit of high school education for presidential candidates. By involving state capacity theory, the authors conclude the need for updates in the educational requirements of presidential candidates to increase the country's capacity to face increasingly complex tasks and challenges. Continuous evaluation of the education system and laws and regulations is essential to create more qualified national leaders in the future.