Budget Allocation Is Not Clear, Free School Trials In Jakarta Use Grant Funds

Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) Plus (doc DKI Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will start testing the implementation of free private schools in 40 educational units starting next July or when entering the new academic year 2025/2026.

The DKI Jakarta DPRD has formed a special committee (pansus) to formulate a mechanism that will be regulated in the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) regarding the Implementation of Education.

The chairman of the Special Committee for the Raperda for the Implementation of Education at the DKI Jakarta DPRD, M. Subki admitted that until now the Provincial Government and DPRD have not found an agreement regarding the budget allocation to finance free schools when it is officially implemented.

Thus, the DKI Jakarta Education Office took the option of allocation of grant funds in the 2025 budget year APBD to carry out free school trials in 40 private schools.

"For those who are tested, it could be that the allocation will come from grants. Because last year it was not budgeted, suddenly now the implementation is there. So, the scheme is very possible from flexible grant funds," Subki told reporters, Wednesday, May 7.

The plan is that the target of this free school trial will be applied to private education units in urban villages that do not have public schools.

However, 40 private schools as pilot projects for free schools cannot be announced. This is because the governor's regulation (pergub) which stipulates that the school registration will only be ratified in the near future.

"The governor's regulation is being processed. So we can't spill either, which school is because this must be concrete. The school also really wants to be free with the consequences that have been discussed, of course with the regional government," explained Subki.

"What is certain is that we ask for the trial of 40 if it can be evenly distributed in all 5 city areas. So that the community can also get socialization that there is a free school program," he added.

To be sure, the DKI Provincial Government will only run free school programs in private schools graded C and D. Then, the amount of education financing for each student is also limited to a nominal value equivalent to the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) assistance.

"It will be limited, not up to millions per child per month. The most parallel is yesterday's KJP value. The KJP yesterday was the elementary school with a range of Rp. 150,000 per student per month. The junior high school is Rp. 300 thousand. The high school is Rp. 400-450 thousand," he concluded.