DPRD Asks For Free Schools To Be Run Next Year, DKI Provincial Government: Hopefully

School class illustration during the COVID 19 (ANTARA) pandemic

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta DPRD has asked the DKI Provincial Government to implement a free school policy, including the fastest private sector next year.

Acting Head of the DKI Jakarta Education Office, Budi Awaluddin, admitted that his party was still reviewing the mechanism for implementing free schools. Budi also hopes that the program can be implemented soon.

"We are still reviewing it regarding free schools. Hopefully, if possible 2025 will be really good," Budi told reporters, Thursday, July 18.

Secretary of Commission E of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Jhonny Simanjuntak asked the DKI Provincial Government to immediately implement a free school policy. Jhonny hopes that at least free schools can be run next year.

"This is just how we implement it. Whether in 2025 or 2026. Yes, 2025 can be tried as soon as possible. Because this can no longer be carried out too much," said Jhonny to reporters, Wednesday, July 17.

According to Jhonny, the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta also approved the proposed free school. So, the free school should be implemented.

"The governor's opinion is not formally with me, he also strongly agrees with that. We just have to close ranks in the executive," said Jhonny.

On that occasion, Jhonny revealed the reason his party proposed free schools. So far, the DPRD often receives complaints from underprivileged families, ranging from cases of dropping out of school to diplomas being detained by private schools because they have not paid tuition fees.

"If this happens, it means that the state is ignorant. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is also negligent and also does not have a sequence of crisis with the poor," said Jhonny.

From this condition, Jhonny saw that the distribution of educational assistance such as the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) had not been able to solve the education problem in Jakarta.

Moreover, Jhonny assessed that the DKI Provincial Government was still able to allocate additional budget from the APBD if the KJP funds were diverted to free schools.

"I think with the DKI Jakarta APBD which is more than Rp. 82 trillion, yes, DKI Jakarta I think it can be an example for other provinces, because this is a necessity. With this KJP, it does not solve the problem," he added.