Batang Regency Government to Provide Free School Uniforms for New Students

The Batang Regency Government in Central Java is implementing an affirmative policy in the education sector by distributing one set of school uniforms to all new students at the elementary and junior high school levels. Regent Faiz Kurniawan confirmed on Wednesday that this policy applies to first-grade elementary students and seventh-grade junior high school students in both public and private institutions. “This free uniform programme is not only aimed at general schools but also at faith-based educational institutions. Therefore, parents do not need to rush to buy new uniforms after their child is accepted, as they will receive assistance from the local government,” he said. According to him, the results of the new student admissions process (SPMB) will be announced on 27 June 2026, after which new students will receive the uniform assistance. At the elementary level, the assistance covers public elementary schools, private elementary schools, and madrasah ibtidaiyah, while at the junior high level, it includes public junior high schools, private junior high schools, and madrasah tsanawiyah. The local government will conduct a centralised procurement process, ensuring that the uniforms provided match each student’s body measurements. “The school will measure the uniforms beforehand so that they fit perfectly, neither too big nor too small,” he said. He explained that this policy was formulated in response to recurring complaints in previous years that standard sizes like M and L often did not match the students’ body shapes and conditions. “Because sizes like M and L can vary greatly among students, direct measurement is considered more effective,” he added. He stated that this programme is part of the local government’s long-term commitment to promoting equal access to education and reducing the economic burden on families at the start of the new school year. “In addition to ensuring that the SPMB process runs transparently and accountably, we are also introducing policies that the community can directly benefit from, and this assistance is expected to ease the burden on parents,” he said.