Free KJP And School Programs Should Go Together, Not Even Eliminating Each Other

The KJP program has been running since the era of Governor Jokowi Widodo and deserves to be maintained until now. (Ist)

JAKARTA The plan for free schools in Jakarta starting next year has even sparked other concerns, namely the abolition of the Jakarta Smart Card or KJP. If this happens, hundreds of thousands of children are threatened with dropping out of school.

Recently, the plan for a free school program starting at the elementary, junior high, and private high schools in Jakarta has been discussed. He said, the program will be realized starting in the 2025/2026 school year and will involve thousands of private schools, so there is no longer any reason for children dropping out of school because parents do not have the money.

However, at almost the same time, the free school program has raised other concerns because it threatens the existence of KJP.

The National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) Ubaid Matraji emphasized that the KJP must go hand in hand with the cost-free school policy because these are two different cases.

The free private school program in Jakarta was first delivered by the Acting Head of the Jakarta Education Office, Purwosusilo. This policy applies to SD to SMA/SMK. As for the free ones, this applies to the cost of Education Development Donations (SPP) and the base money. The initial registration money will also be free.

This program, although not really running yet, received a positive response, especially among parents. Understandably, the cost of education is one of the biggest expenses for parents.

The National Coordinator of the Education Association and Teacher Satriwan Salim appreciated the discourse of free private schools. According to Satriwan, this policy can be a solution to the problem of lack of seats in public schools in Jakarta.

But he hopes that the government guarantees the quality of free schools, from teachers to their facilities and infrastructure.

When the public appreciates the free private school program, although not a few are skeptical, there is a discourse that is actually worrying, namely the elimination of KJP. Maybe the phrase no one is free in this world' is true.

So, rumors of the KJP program being deleted are the aftermath of the free private school plan. You see, the allocation of KJP funds will later be diverted to pay for the education of children who fail to enter school for free. The goal is that they can get free education in private schools.

The Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) is an educational access card in DKI Jakarta Province with a school age of 6-21 years from poor families, so that they can complete a 12-year compulsory education.

This program was first issued in the era of Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in 2013, then continued by Gunernur Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and Governor Anies Baswedan, even though his name changed to KJP Plus.

Citing the official website of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, the number of KJP Plus recipients to Hold 1 of 2024 is 533,639 students.

Kornas JPPI Ubaid Matraji said, if this KJP is removed, it will create new problems and trigger discrimination in basic education services in Jakarta. The elimination of KJP also triggers new gaps and discrimination in the education sector.

According to JPPI data, there will be 295,000 children in danger of dropping out of school in public schools. They are KJP recipients who are currently studying in public schools. They currently enjoy free schools in the country and also get KJP. This means that the free school, which is planned to be implemented in 2025, they have enjoyed for a long time, because they study at public schools.

In addition, as many as 238,000 other children are threatened with dropping out of school in private schools. They are KJP recipients in private schools. They will enjoy school policies free of charge, but amputate their rights to get KJP.

"It should be noted that the need for education costs is not only a matter of paying tuition fees, but there are still many other matters, ranging from uniforms, shoes, books, bags, school equipment, and other educational matters," said Ubaid in a statement received by VOI.

Ubaid fully supports the Jakarta Provincial Government's policy to immediately implement free schools in Jakarta. According to him, this should be implemented in all types of educational institutions, because education is a constitutional obligation that must be carried out by the government.

But on the other hand, he rejected the plan to abolish KJP in Jakarta. Imposing a free school does not mean that KJP is no longer needed, because the needs of children outside of school are still very large. With KJP, many parents, especially among people, cannot be helped. The elimination of KJP, said Ubaid, even invites the potential for Jakarta children to drop out of school.

KJP must go hand in hand with the cost-free school policy. These are two different cases, Ubaid emphasized.

"This free school is part of the implementation of a 12-year compulsory program in Jakarta for all school-age children. Meanwhile, KJP is not for all, but a special scheme for students who come from pre-sesejahtera families," he added.

He also hopes that every good legacy in Jakarta will be maintained, even continued, including maintaining the JKP policy that has been running for more than a decade.

"This program has been initiated and maintained by the 4 Governors of Jakarta, which should be continued and perfected, not even deleted," said Ubaid again.

However, he did not deny the big challenges faced in the field in carrying out the KJP program, one of which was the flow of funds that were allegedly not on target. For this reason, Ubaid calls for the need to strengthen regulations, collect data, and involve the community in the KJP audit.

"Although this program is good and very helpful for the community, there are many challenges in the field, such as not being right on target, misuse, and also disbursement are often late. In the future, this must be improved and strengthened by management so that it is more transparent, accountable, and also credible," he said.