Mayor Risma's Commitment to Provide Free Education in Surabaya in Memory of Today, January 6, 2017

JAKARTA - Today's memory, nine years ago, January 6, 2017, the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, committed to providing free and quality education access to schoolchildren. Risma emphasized that all children must go to school - no matter whether the child comes from a rich or poor family.

Previously, Risma was known as a successful regional leader. The Mayor of Surabaya is known to have good performance. He is moving to beautify Surabaya. He also directly involved in solving all the intricacies of the city's problems.

If Surakarta, Central Java has Joko Widodo (Jokowi), then Surabaya, East Java has Risma. Risma is not much different like Jokowi (later became President of Indonesia) who was once considered a successful regional leader. Risma also has the same teachings as Jokowi, namely going out and going into the village to shop for problems.

The narrative made him loved by all of Surabaya. The Mayor of Surabaya in the 2010-2020 era moved to make Surabaya a comfortable city to live in. Risma started his campaign by building many parks in the city. Something that became a center of gathering and free entertainment for Surabaya residents.

Each park is also equipped with free internet facilities and libraries. Riska also repaired many damaged roads and sidewalks. He did not want the face of the city of Surabaya to look shabby. This condition made him move quickly to drive away all kinds of beggars appearing on the streets of Surabaya.

Instead of just banning beggars, Risma actually moves to empower them. The beggars are taken to a shelter. A place for beggars to learn many new skills. A skill that will make them stop begging and be empowered.

Risma's various steps then received appreciation from many parties. In fact, appreciation does not only come from the Surabaya circle, but other big cities. As a result, Risma has tirelessly received various awards from within the country in 2015.

"If you are traveling around and see beggars or children, Risma will transport and place them in the nearest shelter. The idea, according to the officials of the Department of Construction and Spatial Planning, came directly from Risma herself. She also proposed and decided on the place, number, and shape of the shelter house. "

"From the color of the ceramic, Risma decided. To empower the poor, Risma opened various types of business training. The poor people of Surabaya were listed and sorted according to their productivity and interests. After they were declared to have passed the training, they were housed in cooperatives or set up stalls in malls. The city government bears the tax and costs as well as the capital," explained Bagja Hidayat and Dewi Suci Rahayu in their writing in Tempo Magazine entitled Wali Kota dengan Sebuah Radio (2014).

Gebrakan Risma is not only about urban planning. He is also concerned about the fate of school children who are the next generation of the nation in Surabaya. Risma is also committed to providing free and quality education to school children from elementary to high school in Surabaya on January 6, 2017.

The desire is reasonable. Risma does not want young people in Surabaya to drop out of school. He wants all children to be able to access schools, no matter whether they come from a poor or wealthy family. Risma will give all children the same opportunity to go to school.

Risma considers education to be a teaching against ignorance. Risma also hopes that in the future many young people in Surabaya will be able to occupy high positions such as ministers.

"Both rich and poor children, we give them the same opportunity and are obliged to go to school. We all don't know, later they will become what, who knows there will be a minister. We have been independent for more than 70 years, but if you just look for a school it's hard. "

"There is no meaning to independence. We continue to build schools with all their facilities, so that there is meaning to this independence, and so that there is meaning for the government for its citizens," said Risma when inaugurating SMPN 58 Surabaya as quoted by the lamankompas.com, January 6, 2017.