{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1728866,
        "msgid": "andra-soni-reveals-banten-provincial-government-to-offer-free-education-at-801-private-schools-1778349113",
        "date": "2026-05-09 23:40:20",
        "title": "Andra Soni Reveals Banten Provincial Government to Offer Free Education at 801 Private Schools",
        "author": "",
        "source": "DETIK",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The Banten Provincial Government has launched a free education programme for upper secondary levels starting in 2025, targeting 6,705 Year 10 students across 801 cooperating private schools to address capacity shortages in public institutions. The initiative, funded by the regional budget, will expand to private Madrasah Aliyah in 2026 and is hailed by the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education as a model to reduce dropout rates and enhance equitable access. This aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita vision for improving Indonesian human resources through quality education.",
        "content": "<p>Andra stated that the number of public upper secondary schools is\nonly 271, with each class accommodating just 36 students, insufficient\nto absorb all SMP graduates each year. Therefore, starting in 2025, the\nBanten Provincial Government has introduced a free school programme for\nSMA, SMK, and SKh, funded from the Banten Regional Budget. \u201cIn the first\nyear, we are targeting Year 10 with 6,705 beneficiaries from 801 private\nschools cooperating with us, the highest number compared to other\nregions,\u201d said Andra in Tangerang City on Saturday (9\/1\/2025). For 2026,\nAndra mentioned that the free school programme will be expanded to\ninclude private Madrasah Aliyah. \u201cThen this year, we will develop it to\nMadrasah Aliyah schools,\u201d he said. He emphasised that free education is\npart of the province\u2019s strategic programme. The hope is that this\nprogramme can provide equitable educational access to all students in\nBanten. \u201cWith this programme, I am confident it can improve our human\nresources, in line with the fourth Asta Cita of President Prabowo\nSubianto, which is to enhance the quality of Indonesian people,\u201d he\nstated. Meanwhile, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education\n(Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu\u2019ti said that the free private school programme\ncould be implemented in other regions. According to him, this programme\ncan help reduce dropout rates. \u201cAlthough based on research, economic\nfactors are not the only reason children drop out of school; there are\nother reasons such as distant locations, local culture, and others,\u201d\nsaid Abdul Mu\u2019ti. According to Mu\u2019ti, his ministry is currently\nimplementing learning not only in schools but also at Community Learning\nActivity Centres (PKBM) with various facilities and infrastructure.\n\u201cTherefore, once again, I appreciate the Free School Programme initiated\nby the Banten Provincial Government,\u201d he added.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/andra-soni-reveals-banten-provincial-government-to-offer-free-education-at-801-private-schools-1778349113",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}