Khofifah Launches 143,000 Scholarship Quotas for East Java Students

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has launched a scholarship and tuition relief programme for more than 143,000 students in the province through collaboration with private senior high schools (SMA), vocational high schools (SMK), and private universities (PTS). The programme comprises 81,131 quotas for scholarships and tuition discounts for prospective private SMA and SMK students, alongside 62,000 quotas for scholarships and tuition relief for new students at private universities in East Java.

“These figures are not mere statistics. Behind each scholarship recipient lies the hope of parents, the learning spirit of our children, and the opportunity for the birth of a future generation of East Java that is more superior and competitive,” she stated at the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya on Friday.

According to data from the East Java Education Office as of 18 June 2026, 84 private universities have committed to providing 62,000 scholarship quotas and financial relief for prospective new students. Several campuses are also providing living cost assistance to programme recipients. At the private SMA and SMK level, the number of participating schools has increased from 1,772 in the 2025/2026 academic year to 2,106 in the 2026/2027 academic year, an increase of 334 schools. This total comprises 860 private SMAs and 1,246 private SMKs.

For 2026, the total number of full scholarship recipients at private SMAs and SMKs reaches 44,421 students. Additionally, there are 36,710 recipients of tuition discounts in the form of building fee waivers, reductions in education development contributions (SPP), and other educational assistance. According to data from the East Java Provincial Government, the number of junior high school (SMP) and madrasah tsanawiyah (MTs) graduates in 2026 reached 618,479 students. Meanwhile, the capacity of state SMAs and SMKs is only 244,621 seats.

“This is our shared challenge. It means that state schools can only accommodate around 39.55 per cent of total graduates. There are still approximately 373,858 children, or 60.45 per cent of graduates, who must continue their education through private schools or other educational pathways. God willing, this programme can close our education gap,” she said. Khofifah added that the programme is also part of efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children (ATS) and increase the gross enrolment rate (APK) in East Java. “This is a form of collaboration built between the East Java Provincial Government and private educational institutions to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to receive a quality education,” she said.