Govt mulls idea of free education for children

Govt mulls idea of free education for children

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite its policy on fuel price increases not yet getting
approval from the House of Representatives, the government has
proposed a new scheme to be financed from welfare funds derived
from the removal of fuel subsidies, which would provide free
elementary education for students throughout the country.

Originally, the government had proposed to the House that it
would allocate a total of Rp 17.8 trillion (US$1.9 billion) for
welfare programs targeting the poor. The programs would be
prioritized for education, rice subsidies, rural infrastructure,
and health projects.

For the education programs, the government had planned to
provide direct assistance worth Rp 5.64 trillion for the 9.6
million school students nationwide.

The government's policy to increase fuel prices has yet to get
official support from the House. The scheduled plenary session on
late Wednesday turned into a brawl, and was adjoined until
Thursday morning.

"The new free education scheme for elementary schools
nationwide will be combined with the provision of free medical
services for the third class wards in state- and city-run
hospitals, without the need to show welfare cards," Cabinet
Secretary Sudi Silalahi said after a cabinet meeting at the State
Palace.

The government had previously allocated Rp 2.17 trillion for
health services for the poor.

Without the requirement to show welfare cards, people living
slightly above the poverty line could also enjoy the benefits of
free school education and medical services, Sudi said.

Some people, who are ineligible for welfare cards, would have
been burdened by the fuel price increases as they would not
entitled to all the privileges provided by the government for the
poor.

Following the fuel price increases on March 1, averaging 29
percent, prices of basic commodities and transportation have also
increased. Unilateral and unjustified price rises have sparked
protests from the public, despite President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono request that vendors and public transportation
operators not increase prices by more than 7 percent.

The government and the House will recalculate allocations of
the welfare funds without changing the total amount of Rp 17.8
trillion already budgeted.

"We will propose revisions to the state budget to the House as
soon as possible," Sudi said.

He added that if the recalculation showed that there were
sufficient funds in the state budget, then the government would
also propose free education for junior high school.

Susilo also instructed all governors, mayors and regents to
ensure that all primary commodities were available at affordable
prices, including cooking fuel supplies.

At the same meeting, he also instructed relevant authorities
to focus on their investigations into troubled banks, the murder
of human rights activist Munir, the Pertamina oil tanker sale
case, and rampant illegal logging.