Free Private Schools In Jakarta Don't Have Legal Umbrellas Yet, Rano Karno: The Gubernatorial Regulation Is Being Developed

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno inspects MPLS at SMAN 6, South Jakarta (DOK Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has carried out trials of free private school programs in 40 schools ranging from elementary, junior high, to high school/vocational schools. However, this program does not yet have a legal umbrella that approves its implementation.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno ensured that the DKI Provincial Government was processing the issuance of free school governor regulations (pergub).

"The trial in 40 private schools is being prepared. It must have a legal umbrella so that we understand where we have to start," said Rano after reviewing the MPLS at SMAN 6, South Jakarta, Tuesday, July 15.

Along with this, the DKI Provincial Government is still waiting for the process of issuing free school regulations which are now orders from the Constitutional Court (MK).

On a national scale, free private schools will be regulated in the Draft Law on the National Education System (RUU Sidiknas) to be later passed down in a presidential regulation (perpres).

Thus, Rano wants the implementation of free private schools in Jakarta to also be on the path of the central government program.

"Because it is not only the authority of the provincial government alone. That is also the ministry must know, Dikti must also understand. So that it goes well," explained Rano.

Previously, the Secretary of the DKI Jakarta Education Office, Taga Radja Gah, admitted that the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Pramono Anung, had not issued a free school governor's regulation. So, the DKI Provincial Government has not been able to distribute its funding when the trial began on Monday, July 14.

"We simultaneously (run the program and prepare the governor's regulation) at the same time. If we wait for the governor's regulation first, later (students registered for free schools) we can't go to school. Poor," Taga told reporters.

The DKI Provincial Government has also asked for the willingness of schools participating in free school trials to wait for the governor's regulation to be issued so that the budget can be distributed.

Thus, the classes or study groups that are included in the free school trials run using funds from the school and students who have previously paid tuition fees.

Later, those who have made independent payments will receive refunds.

"What if the one that has been recorded? A statement will be made using a stampai that will be returned if the money is disbursed," he explained.

It is noted that as many as 4,932 students from 40 private schools in Jakarta have received a reduction in education costs. As an initial stage, the free education program that has been piloted this year has not yet targeted all students.

Of the total 14,905 students in the 436 study groups in the 40 schools, the DKI Provincial Government has only financed free schools on 4,932 students from 142 study groups who are early classes.