Ahmad Luthfi Provides Tuition Fee Relief and Boarding Assistance to NTT Students in Central Java
The Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, has provided assistance in the form of tuition fee relief, boarding costs, and basic necessities to students from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) who are studying in Central Java.
The assistance was given as a form of care by the Central Java Provincial Government towards students affected by the earthquake disaster in their home region.
Luthfi delivered the assistance directly to student representatives during a visit to their boarding house on Jalan Pawiyatan Luhur Selatan III, Bendan Duwur, Gajahmungkur Subdistrict, Semarang City, on Monday (7/9).
During the visit, Luthfi was accompanied by the Head of Baznas Central Java, Ahmad Darodji, the Director of Bank Jateng, Bambang Widiyatmoko, several heads of regional agencies, and the Rector of Universitas Tujuh Belas Agustus (Untag) Semarang.
“You are my children here. Whatever shortcomings and grievances you younger students and the people of NTT face, I feel them too. Students and pupils in Central Java are my responsibility,” Luthfi said during a dialogue with NTT student representatives.
During the meeting, Luthfi also explored the concerns faced by students studying in Central Java, ranging from the paralysed economic conditions in several NTT districts, parents still living in evacuation centres, to areas that have yet to receive aid.
“Tell your parents back home that here in Central Java you already have someone caring for you. I have also instructed the Education Agency, Baznas, and Bank Jateng to coordinate with all universities — we will ask for relief or we will cover tuition fees, as well as boarding costs for one to three months,” he explained.
During the dialogue, an Untag Semarang student, Maria Rani Nake, was moved to tears, unable to hold back her emotions when thinking of her parents and family back home.
She, along with her older and younger siblings, must continue their studies in Semarang. In that moment, Ahmad Luthfi comforted and motivated her to keep up her spirits in her studies.
“I was touched, because the Governor of Central Java has treated me like his own child,” said Maria.
Meanwhile, Alfonsius Joivan Sar, a student from South Elar Subdistrict, East Manggarai, recounted that his home area is quite difficult to access.
In fact, aid from various regions has struggled to reach his home village. His family is currently still taking shelter at an evacuation post because their house is not yet fit for habitation.
According to information from the NTT student group in Semarang City, there are 172 affected students. They come from Greater Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende, and Maumere. That figure may still rise as data collection is ongoing.
The amount of assistance provided through the Social Guarantee scheme consists of 172 Social Safety Net (JPS) basic food packages, each worth Rp250,000, totalling around Rp43 million.
“My friends from NTT and I express our gratitude to the Governor of Central Java for visiting and providing us with this assistance — tuition fees and boarding money,” said Armansyah, a student at the Faculty of Law, Semarang State University.
Yuvensius Daseli, an Untag student, added that according to data there are around 300 students from NTT in Semarang City alone, spread across all universities. He expressed his gratitude for the attention and care shown by Governor Ahmad Luthfi and the Central Java Provincial Government.
“To be honest, we were touched by what the Governor said. We were very moved that the Governor himself said directly that he would be our parent here. Based on the student data I compiled, there are almost 300 people, and that is just in Semarang,” he said.