KJP Recipients Still Face Risks of Not Continuing to University, Observers Call for Continuous Programme

Cecep Darmawan, an education policy observer from the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, has called for the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) and the Jakarta Superior Student Card (KJMU) programmes to be made more continuous. According to him, educational assistance from the Jakarta Provincial Government should not stop at the school level but should extend through to higher education.

Cecep believes that the KJP provided to students needs to act as a bridge, enabling them to pursue higher education via the KJMU programme. He stated that the Jakarta Provincial Government must ensure KJP recipients, particularly those from vulnerable communities, have the opportunity to continue their studies through KJMU.

According to Cecep, educational assistance should be designed as a series of interconnected programmes rather than operating in isolation. He noted that KJP recipients with high academic achievement and capability should be given the opportunity to proceed to higher education through KJMU.

“The important thing is that vulnerable communities in Jakarta should not be left without schooling. Afterwards, if their performance is good and their capability is sufficient, they should proceed to KJMU,” he said.

He added that some students might be better suited for vocational education, such as Diploma 3 (D3) or Diploma 4 (D4) programmes, to ensure faster integration into the workforce. “If they are more suited to vocational education, then they should be directed there, so they can enter the workforce quickly,” he remarked.

Cecep further added that the Jakarta Provincial Government needs to focus not only on educational access but also on the quality of education, school facilities, and the alignment of the curriculum with labour market needs. “Education is not just about access, but also about the quality of education, educational facilities, and how the curriculum can achieve a ‘link and match’ with employment requirements,” he said.

He also assessed that educational assistance programmes must be truly well-targeted. Consequently, the data collection for KJP and KJMU recipients needs to be improved to ensure that eligible citizens are not overlooked.