Education budget to be 22%<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta has allocated Rp 3.89 trillion (US$389 million) or 22
\npercent of its Rp 17.51 trillion budget for next year for
\neducation, an increase of 13.69 percent compared to this year's
\nallocation.<\/p>\n
The figure exceeds the 20 percent requirement stipulated in
\nthe Constitution for both national and regional governments.<\/p>\n
Most regional administrations have not met the requirement.<\/p>\n
City Council deputy speaker Achmad Heryawan said on Wednesday
\nthat the funds would be used to provide free schooling in most
\nstate elementary and junior high schools, improve teachers'
\nwelfare and renovate and construct schools.<\/p>\n
\"We plan to provide free schooling for most elementary and
\njunior high school students starting next year. It is in line
\nwith the central government's nine-year compulsory education
\nsystem,\" he announced.<\/p>\n
Concerning free schooling, Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said the
\ncity would finance all basic needs for education both in
\nelementary and junior high schools.<\/p>\n
But he stressed that popular schools would still be allowed to
\ncharge student fees.<\/p>\n
Head of the city's Basic Education Office Sylviana Murni said
\nrecently that payments to cover elementary school operational
\ncosts would be raised from the current Rp 27,500 (US$2.75) per
\nstudent per month to Rp 50,000 per student per month in 2006.<\/p>\n
State schools also currently receive Rp 19,500 per student per
\nmonth from the central government.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, for junior high school students, the city
\nadministration will increase its subsidy from Rp 50,000 per
\nstudent per month to Rp 100,000 per student per month next year,
\nwhile funds from the central government will be Rp 27,500 per
\nstudent per month.<\/p>\n
There are some 640,000 elementary school students and 250,000
\njunior high school students in the capital.<\/p>\n
As to teachers' welfare, Heryawan said the Council had agreed
\nto the city administration's proposal to increase state
\nschoolteachers' monthly benefits from Rp 1 million this year to
\nRp 2 million next year.<\/p>\n
Heryawan said that the city had also agreed to allocate funds
\nfor benefits for Islamic schoolteachers, who are under the
\nMinistry of Religious Affairs, but the amount would only be
\naround Rp 450,000 per month.<\/p>\n
The city will also allocate Rp 350 billion for the renovation
\nand construction of new schools next year.<\/p>\n
Heryawan said the deliberation of the draft city budget for
\n2006 was complete and that the final draft would be discussed by
\nleaders of the City Council on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, the draft budget will be approved by the Council
\non Saturday,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-budget-to-be-22-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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