DKI Governor Opens Opportunity to Add Free Private Schools in Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo stated that the addition of free private schools in Jakarta will be decided together with the DKI Jakarta DPRD, including the possibility of including madrasahs in the programme if the budget permits. “For next year, how many will be added will certainly be a joint decision,” Pramono said when met in East Jakarta on Friday. According to Pramono, providing free school facilities cannot be done single-handedly by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. Therefore, Pramono said, there must be collaboration with the DKI Jakarta DPRD to expand the programme. Previously, Pramono had also mentioned the opportunity to add free private schools if the budget allows, in line with hopes for additional fiscal space from the DKI Jakarta DPRD. Pramono further stated that in the future, free private schools under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, namely madrasahs, could be added. He made this statement in response to DKI Jakarta DPRD Commission E Chairman Muhammad Subki, who requested that private schools under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, namely madrasahs, be included in the free private school programme. Subki said that the free private school programme, which has targeted 103 schools for the 2026/2027 academic year, deserves appreciation. However, Subki continued, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government also needs to pay attention to other private schools, especially those under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, namely madrasahs, which have not yet been included in the free private school programme. In fact, Subki said, students at madrasahs are children of DKI Jakarta, and their parents pay taxes the same as others.