Equitable education access remains a key commitment of the Indonesian government in enhancing the quality of national education services. In this context, the management of the National School Operational Assistance Fund (BOSNAS) plays a strategic role in supporting school operations and reaching under-resourced educational institutions. This study investigates the policy dynamics and distribution strategies of BOSNAS funds by the Education and Culture Office of Malang City. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews and official document reviews. The findings reveal that policy implementation follows central government regulations but lacks contextual adaptation to local needs. The distribution strategy applies a quantitative approach based on student enrollment numbers, without accounting for geographic disparities or school-specific conditions. Technical obstacles such as delayed reporting and the absence of a formally established management team hinder effective implementation. On the other hand, the adoption of digital systems like Dapodik, ARKAS, and Markas has begun to support real-time reporting and monitoring, although training and system optimization remain limited. These findings underscore the need for a more needs-based distribution framework, institutional strengthening, and outcome-based evaluation to support sustainable educational equity at the local level.
Sopiah et al. (Mon,) studied this question.