Less Than 20 Percent In Budget, Council Members Question Bobby Nasution's Commitment To Education

Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

MEDAN - The commitment of the Medan City Government under the command of Mayor Bobby Nasution is considered not pro to the world of education in the city of Medan. The assessment was conveyed by a member of Commission III of the Medan City Regional Representative Council (DPRD), Ishaq Abrar Mustafa Tarigan.

According to him, the education budget of Medan City for 2022 is IDR 1.2 trillion or around 18.92 percent of the total regional expenditure. With details of 15.65 percent for the management of elementary school education, 11.40 percent for junior high school.

Then 2.65 percent for Pre-school (PAUD) management and 1.05 percent for non-formal education. Provision of salaries and allowances of 60.48 percent.

"From the description of spending at the Education Office, we deeply regret that the budget for the 2022 fiscal year does not fulfill the obligation to allocate education spending money that has been regulated by law," Ishaq said in a plenary meeting of the Medan City Regional Regulation on the 2022 Regional Budget Draft (RAPBD), Monday, November 15.

"This means that the Medan City government has not been pro to the world of education," he continued.

In addition, from his observations, Ishaq saw that capital expenditures only amounted to 9.95 percent of the budget for the Medan City Education Office.

"This means that most of the spending at the Education Office is still for employee salaries and operations," he said.

Not only that, Ishaq also saw that there were no new programs and breakthroughs made by Bobby Nasution for the world of education in 2022.

"We do not see any new programs or breakthroughs in facing the challenges of education in the 4.0 revolution era. What we see are only routine programs and activities," he said.

Previously, the Mayor of Medan Bobby Nasution submitted the Draft Regional Regulation on the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year.

Bobby Nasution said that the Regional Revenue for the 2022 Fiscal Year is projected to be more than IDR 6.27 trillion. The planned projection is quite realistic, both the type of income that is expected to come from Regional Original Income (PAD) and from other types of regional income.

In terms of total expenditure, continued Bobby Nasution, the total regional expenditure is estimated at more than IDR 6.37 trillion.

This overall Regional Expenditure is prioritized on efforts to achieve the city development vision that has been stipulated in the Medan City Regional Regulation Number 7 of 2021 concerning the Medan City Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD) 2021-2026.

"Furthermore, in terms of financing, it is planned to cover the regional budget deficit, an estimated net regional financing of IDR 100 billion is set," said Bobby Nasution.