Ketimpangan Maritim dan Akses Pendidikan: Studi Sosiologi Pendidikan Atas Ketergantungan Mahasiswa Kepulauan Pada Kapal PELNI
Maritime Inequality and Access to Education: A Sociology of Education Study on The Dependence of Island Students on Pelni Ships
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36928/4g6nrt97Keywords:
educational inequality, students from the islands, maritime mobility, social capital, pelni shipsAbstract
Inequalities in access to education in Indonesia’s island regions are influenced not only by economic and social factors but also by limited geographical mobility. This study aims to analyze how the dependence of students from island regions on maritime transportation specifically Pelni ships affects their access to higher education. The study employs a qualitative approach using phenomenological methods. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 25 students from island regions in Eastern Indonesia who are pursuing higher education in Makassar. The findings indicate that Pelni ships serve as educational infrastructure enabling academic mobility for students from remote areas to higher education centers. However, limited sailing schedules, long travel durations, and high mobility costs create a distinct form of educational inequality in island regions. On the other hand, travel via Pelni ships also serves as a space for the formation of social capital through student interactions and migrant networks. This study introduces the concept of maritime educational inequality as a form of educational disparity arising from differences in access to maritime transportation infrastructure. These findings expand the field of the sociology of education by positioning geographical mobility as a key factor in the reproduction of educational inequality.
References
Alwi, A. (2025a). Analisis Sosiologis Pola dan Faktor yang Memengaruhi Interaksi Sosial Antar Penumpang Kapal Pelni. JKPM: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Kebudayaan Missio, 17(2), 142–153.
Alwi, A. (2025b). Faith , Culture , and the River?: Socio-Religious Dimensions of Waste Disposal Practices in Indonesia. Reflektif, Jurnal Sosiologi, 20(1), 161–184.
Creswell, J. W., & Inoue, M. (2025). A process for conducting mixed methods data analysis. Journal of General and Family Medicine, 26(1), 4–11.
Ducruet, C. (2020). The Geography of Maritime Networks: A Critical Review. Journal of Transport Geography, 88, 102824.
Faure, M.-A., & Ducruet, C. (2026). The Blue Connection. A Systematic and Critical Review of Shipping Network Research. Networks and Spatial Economics, 26(1), 129–188.
Gossling, S. (2023). Extending the Theoretical Grounding of Mobilities Research: Transport Psychology Perspectives. Mobilities, 18(2), 167–183.
Henderson, H. (2023). Calculating the Cost: Place, Mobility and Price in Higher Education Decision-making for Students on Small Islands Around the UK. Educational Review, 75(5), 851–870.
Li, W., Bai, X., Yang, D., & Hou, Y. (2023). Maritime Connectivity, Transport Infrastructure Expansion and Economic Growth: A Global Perspective. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 170, 103609.
Pantouvakis, A., & Gerou, A. (2023). The Role of Onboard Experiencescape and Social Interaction in The Formation of Ferry Passengers’ Emotions. WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 22(3), 365–384.
Rossi, S. D., Stratford, E., & Byrne, J. (2026). Mobility Matters: Effects of Campus Location on Travel Burden and Educational Equity in a Regional city. Applied Geography, 186, 103864.
Tan, C. Y. (2024). Socioeconomic Status and Student Learning: Insights From an Umbrella Review. Educational Psychology Review, 36(4), 100.
Tan, G. L. C., & Fang, Z. (2023). Family Social and Kultural Capital: an Analysis of Effects on Adolescents’ Educational Outcomes in China. The Journal of Chinese Sociology, 10(1), 21.
Unaradjan, D. D. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif - Google Books. In Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya.
Vagle, M. D. (2018). Crafting Phenomenological Research (3rd ed). Routledge.
Wladis, C., Hachey, A. C., & Conway, K. (2024). It’s about time: The Inequitable Distribution of Time as a Resource for College, by Gender and Race/ethnicity. Research in Higher Education, 65(7), 1614–1646.
Wu, Y., & Wang, J. (2025). The Tension Between Money and Culture: Inequality, Economic Capital, Cultural Capital, and High school students’ Educational Achievements From a Comparative Perspective. American Educational Research Journal, 62(3), 540–571.
Yudistira, Sedubun, D. R., & Laamena, N. S. (2025). Application of Spatial Weighted Matrix Based on Transportation Connectivity for Modelling Access to Higher Education in Archipelago Provinces. AIP Conference Proceedings, 3293(1), 60005.
Zahavi, D. (2025). Phenomenology: the basics. Routledge. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003350682
