DKI Provincial Government Adds 258 Privates To Enter Free School Programs Next Year

DKI Jakarta/DOK City Hall BETWEEN

Deputy Head of the DKI Jakarta Education Office, Sarjoko, revealed that the DKI Provincial Government will add hundreds of private education units to enter the free private school program next year.

The DKI Jakarta Education Office has now proposed additional budgets to finance hundreds of free schools in general budget policies and priority budget ceilings (KUA-PPAS) for the 2026 budget year. Therefore, the value of the budget cannot be determined before it is approved by the DPRD.

"The plan is for 258 schools for 2026. This is just talking about the KUA-PPAS, right," Sarjoko told reporters, Wednesday, August 13.

Currently, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has run trials of free private school programs in 40 schools ranging from elementary, junior high, to SMA/SMK levels. As an initial stage, the free education program that has been tested this year has not yet targeted all students.

Of the total 14,905 students in the 436 study groups in the 40 schools, the DKI Provincial Government has only financed free schools on 4,932 students from 142 study groups who are early classes or new batches.

"For the 40 schools, around Rp107 billion. They have agreed to participate in the organization of free schools. So that in the implementation of education, they will not collect their parents or students," said Sarjoko.

However, Sarjoko admitted that this program does not yet have a legal umbrella that officially ratifies the implementation of free schools.

The legal product is still being prepared by the Education Office together with the DKI Legal Bureau before being signed by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Pramono Anung.

"As a regulation, we are still in the process," said Sarjoko.

Considering that the official regulations regarding free schools have not been issued, Sarjoko admitted that the DKI Provincial Government has not been able to distribute funding even though the trial has started since last Monday, July 14.

Thus, the classes or study groups that are included in the free school trials run using funds from the school and students who have previously paid tuition fees.

Later, those who have made independent payments will receive refunds.

"Even though they have not received the distribution of the funds, in principle they have agreed to organize a free school. Later, after the APBD for this change has been completed, we will finish it for the financing," he added.