405 Private Schools In Jakarta Not Included In Free School Program

Illustration. Parents monitor their children during the initial teaching and learning process at SD Muhammadiyah 5 Jakarta, South Jakarta, July 15, 2019. (Between Photo-Aprillio Akbar)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government plans to implement a free school program, especially private education units in Jakarta. However, there are 405 private schools that are not included in the target of free schools.

Plt. Head of the DKI Jakarta Education Office, Budi Awaluddin, said that private schools that still do not implement the free school policy are schools that have not received the distribution of education operational assistance funds (BOS).

"From (all) schools there is a 4-5 grade that does not receive BOS funds, there are around 405. So, they are already independent, do not receive BOS funds from the central government. Now, what we will remove are those who receive BOS funds," Budi told reporters, Monday, August 5.

According to Budi, private schools that do not enter free school programs are schools that have been able to carry out operational management from student education costs.

"Of course this is a grade of 4-5, yes. So, those who are private who may be like that, we will not enter it," said Budi.

All factions in the DKI Jakarta DPRD are said to have agreed that free schools can be applied. Secretary of Commission E of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Jhonny Simanjuntak, also asked the DKI Provincial Government to immediately implement the policy, at least next year.

"It's 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 some time ago.

Jhonny revealed the reason for his party proposing free schools. So far, the DPRD often receives complaints from underprivileged families, ranging from cases of dropping out of school to diplomas held 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.

Now, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is still reviewing the plan to implement free schools, especially private ones in Jakarta. The DKI Jakarta Education Office targets the study to be completed by the end of 2024.