Criticism of Free Private School Programme in Jakarta, DPRD: Madrasahs Not Yet Included
The Jakarta Provincial Government is increasing the number of free private schools to 103 for the 2026-2027 academic year. This marks an addition of 63 schools compared to the 2025-2026 academic year, when only 40 private schools were made free.
The Chairman of Commission E of the Jakarta Provincial DPRD, M Subki, appreciated the Jakarta Provincial Government’s policy of adding free private schools for the 2026-2027 academic year. However, he assessed that the free private school programme still needs improvement. This is because, out of the 103 free private schools, none are madrasahs.
“Please note, do not forget, in Jakarta there is also education under the coordination of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, madrasahs,” he said during an interruption in the plenary session of the Jakarta Provincial DPRD with Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung on Thursday (30/4/2026).
He stated that students attending madrasahs in the capital region are also Jakarta’s children. The parents of these children also pay taxes to the government, including the Jakarta Provincial Government.
“Therefore, this discrimination must not persist,” he said.
For that reason, Subki proposed that the Jakarta Provincial Government could expand the scope of the free private school programme to include madrasahs. This way, children studying in madrasahs would also benefit from the programme.
“I propose to the Governor and his team that free schools should also follow, hopefully Jakarta’s finances can increase, with free private madrasahs,” said the PKS politician.
Meanwhile, a member of Commission C of the Jakarta Provincial DPRD from the PAN Faction, Lukmanul Hakim, assessed that the free private school programme is not yet fully on target. This is because there are still children in Jakarta who drop out of school.
“Today, public schools are not yet fulfilled, Sir, but the locations of the 103 free ones are not all on target, Sir. In the Cengkareng area, there are still many children dropping out of school. Where is the hope for the children of our nation in the future?” he said.
Lukmanul assessed that this fact is in stark contrast to Jakarta’s aspiration to become a global city. According to him, the status of a global city remains a distant dream for Jakarta if there are still children dropping out of school.
“The global city is still far from our dreams if there are still many dropouts. I hope the Governor’s team truly considers, Sir, in determining the locations for free schools,” he said.
Response from Pramono