DPRD Banten Asks Education Agency to Evaluate Free Private Schools Still Charging Fees

The Secretary of Commission V of the Banten Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Rifky Hermiansyah, has discovered that several private senior high schools (SLTA) participating in the free school programme are still collecting fees from students. He has requested the Education and Culture Agency (Disdikbud) to evaluate these SMA, SMK, and SKh institutions. “During our recess, we heard aspirations that there are still schools asking for money from parents. The Education Agency has also found similar findings,” Rifky said on Friday (26/6/2026). Rifky noted that out of 801 schools, quite a number of private schools are still extracting money from pupils. “Around more than five,” he stated. If these reports are true, the Education Agency must take the matter seriously. He does not want the public to become victims of a discrepancy between announced policy and practice on the ground. “If these findings are proven, there must be a total evaluation of schools that lack the commitment to implement this free school programme,” he stressed. He urged the Education Agency to conduct field verification and follow up on every report received from the public. “We encourage the relevant agency to go directly to the field to check. If there are violations, firm action must be taken. This programme must not become just a slogan, but must truly be felt by the community,” he said. Commission V of the Banten Provincial DPRD will continue to oversee the implementation of the Free School Programme to ensure all participating schools comply with the established rules. “We will supervise this programme so that it runs effectively and is on target. Schools that are committed must certainly be supported, but those that do not follow the rules need to be evaluated so that the quality of the programme’s implementation is maintained,” he said. Rifky highlighted that the goal of Governor Andra Soni’s programme is to expand access to education without burdening the community. Schools that violate this have undermined the main objective of the free school programme. “The Free School Programme is a form of commitment by the Banten Provincial Government under the administration of Banten Governor Andra Soni to ensure all children get access to proper education without being hindered by costs,” he said. “Therefore, schools that have joined this programme must be consistent in carrying out the agreements that have been made,” he concluded.