Refusing Children To Have Learning Difficulties, Riau Islands Provincial Govt Bears The Cost Of Traveling By Sea To School

Children in the Riau Islands use sea transportation to go to school (ANTARA)

TANJUNGPINANG - The Riau Islands Provincial Government (Pemprov Kepri) has allocated funds of IDR 101 billion to support children's sea and land trips to school, including building facilities and infrastructure for public SMA/SMK/SLB level schools.

"Hopefully this budget can boost education at the high school level," said Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 14.

Ansar stated that the budget would be prioritized to build a number of new schools spread across seven districts/cities in the Riau Islands. Most dominant in Batam City, there are four new school units. Meanwhile, for the other six districts/cities, each has one new school unit.

According to him, Batam gets the largest portion of new school construction, because the population distribution is denser than other districts/cities.

"The new school was built as a solution to the problem of admitting new students (PPDB) which is always problematic every year," said Ansar.

In addition, his party has also added 134 new classrooms or RKB in schools which have so far been lacking in accommodating students.

The budget, he said, would also be channeled for sea transportation assistance for 1,725 ​​underprivileged students in the amount of IDR 4.6 billion, so there was no excuse for not being able to go to school because they could not afford sea transportation, especially those who live in coastal areas.

Then, land transportation for 1,800 underprivileged students in 70 schools is IDR 4.4 billion.

In addition, financial assistance for 1,000 new students amounted to IDR 3 billion, and tuition assistance for educational development contributions (SPP) of IDR 1.3 billion for 5,220 high school students.

"Educational assistance is prioritized for underprivileged families. If you can afford it, you don't need help anymore, instead it is hoped that you will help the less fortunate people," said Ansar.

Ansar added that the amount of the education aid budget for students in 2023 had increased compared to last year, from IDR 5.6 billion to IDR 15 billion. This is a form of the Riau Islands Provincial Government's commitment to advancing the world of education in order to form the next generation of intelligent and characterized nation.

He said that according to the mandate of the Law, the Riau Islands Provincial Government had budgeted 10 percent of education costs, even more than the total 2023 APBD.