Mendikdasmen: Penghentian Dana Hibah Pendidikan Jabar Wekri Daerah

JAKARTA - Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti responded to the West Java Provincial Government's decision to temporarily suspend the distribution of grant funds to educational foundations.

According to him, this policy is entirely under the authority of local governments and is not within the scope of the ministry's responsibility.

"That's the governor's business," said Abdul Mu'ti when met at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 30, as reported by ANTARA.

Responding to questions about potential obstacles to school activities due to the termination of grant funds, Abdul Mu'ti emphasized that grant funds from the provincial government were different from assistance schemes from the central government.

"Of us, those are School Operational Assistance (BOS), Performance BOS, and Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) funds. Beyond that, it is not the authority of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education," he said.

As previously reported, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi on Sunday (27/4) decided to temporarily suspend the distribution of grant funds for educational foundations, including those based on religion, because they were considered prone to fraud and uneven.

He highlighted that there are unverified foundations that receive billions of rupiah in funds without being used according to educational goals.

This termination will last until the verification process for educational institutions is completed by the West Java Ministry of Religion Education and Regional Office.

This policy has received support from the West Java DPRD, and in the future, assistance will be diverted to data-based development programs, not aspirations or political closeness.

The West Java Provincial Government has also opened the possibility of helping the construction of madrasas with the condition that student data is clear and verified.

As part of educational reform, Dedi emphasized the importance of structuring the new student admission system and adjusting the capacity.

If public schools are not sufficient, students will be directed to private schools with financing assisted by the provincial government, as long as the location and data are valid.

This approach is expected by Dedi to encourage 100 percent school participation to the SMA/MA level throughout West Java.