KJP Funds Will Be Diverted For Free Private Schools

Acting Head (Plt) Head of the DKI Jakarta Education Office Budi Awaluddin while attending a meeting with Commission E of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, at the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Friday (23/8/2024). BETWEEN/Lia Wanadriani Santosa

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government stated that the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) funds will be diverted to the free private school program which is scheduled to start in 2025. "We automatically transfer the KJP there (free schools). July is the new school year," said Acting Head of the DKI Jakarta Education Office Budi Awaluddin while attending a meeting with Commission E of the DKI Jakarta DPRD at the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Antara, Friday, August 24. He said he was still exploring the budget for free school programs that collaborated with around 2,900 private schools from elementary, junior high, to high school and vocational schools. "(The budget) we are still investigating, the figure has been able to reach all of the KJP budget. From Commission E supports this policy and from the budget it is also quite available to fulfill free schools in 2025," he said. Budi then said that his party would prioritize children to be included in the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) to be able to take part in the free school program. Chairman of Commission E of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Iman Satria, hopes that there will be no more children in Jakarta who do not receive education with the free school program. In line with Budi, he emphasized that along with the program, KJP would no longer exist and funds would be allocated for free schools. "(The ceiling or highest budget expenditure limit). The points at IDR 2.3 trillion are sufficient, while our KJP is IDR 2.8 trillion," he said. "(The difference) Maybe we will provide assistance to children for uniforms and others. IDR 2.3 trillion for more than 238,000 thousand in private schools," said Iman. He agreed to other members of Commission E then recommended that the executive push for the acceleration of the implementation of the free private school policy for the budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year. In addition, Commission E also encourages the Formation of Regional Regulations (Bapemperda) of the DKI Jakarta DPRD to immediately discuss the revision of Regional Regulation Number 8 of 2008 concerning the Education System as the legal basis for implementing free private schools in 2025. Commission E also encourages the Regional Government Budget Team (TAPD) to allocate and create a new account number for Free School Operational Assistance. In addition, the DKI Education Office was asked together with relevant agencies to create a timeline and mechanism for the implementation of free schools.

"Executive in order to prepare for the preparation of changes to the Governor's Decree on the allocation of BOP funds and so that the executive adjusts the RPJMD (regional medium-term development plan) with the implementation of free private school policies," said Iman.