New PIP Regulations for 2026: Key Changes to Note

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is set to implement new regulations for the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) in 2026, featuring several changes ranging from the expansion of beneficiaries to include kindergarten (TK) levels, to new school-led nomination mechanisms and changes in the determination of aid amounts.

These changes are regulated through the Regulation of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Permendikdasmen) Number 1/2026 concerning the Smart Indonesia Program for Primary and Secondary Education. The regulation, effective from 13 May 2026, replaces Permendikbud Number 10/2020.

Implementation is also governed by the Regulation of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Number 17/2026 and the Decree of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Number 171/2026 regarding the amount of assistance.

So, what are the changes in the 2026 PIP regulations?

1. Expansion of PIP recipients to include Kindergarten

The most striking change is the expansion of the target beneficiaries. Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, PIP will cover preschool or kindergarten students.

Previously, PIP targets included primary (SD), junior high (SMP), senior high (SMA/SMK), special education schools (SLB), and equivalency education. Under the new rules, the scope extends from preschool to SMA/SMK/SLB and equivalency education.

The age limit for targets has also changed from the previous 6 to 21 years to starting from 5 years up to before 22 years. This age provision does not apply to students with special needs.

This expansion aligns with the government’s 13-Year Compulsory Education policy. In 2026, the government aims for PIP to reach approximately 19.48 million students from underprivileged families.

2. Increased role of schools in nominations

Under the new mechanism, educational units will play a larger role in proposing PIP candidates. Schools must first update and validate student data through the Basic Education Data (Dapodik). Subsequently, schools will verify students deemed eligible for assistance through the SIPINTAR application.

Schools will then compile a priority list of recipients based on available targets. This list is established by the school principal after consultation with the school committee, before being proposed to the Education Financing Service Centre (Puslapdik) through the prescribed mechanism.

Education offices will maintain their function of oversight and validation of the lists submitted by schools. If a school fails to perform verification or does not propose candidates according to the available targets, the education office may compile and propose a priority list of recipients.

3. Assistance amounts calculated per semester

The new regulation also changes the method for determining the nominal amount of assistance. While previously the PIP amount was set annually, it is now determined per semester.

For 2026, the PIP assistance amounts are set as follows:

• Kindergarten, SD/SDLB, and Paket A students: Rp225,000 per semester.

• SMP/SMPLB and Paket B students: Rp375,000 per semester.

• SMA/SMK/SMALB/SMKLB and Paket C students: Rp900,000 per semester.

In terms of annual totals, these amounts are essentially equivalent to previous levels. However, the per-semester calculation provides certainty regarding the period of assistance received, particularly for students in early or final grades.

Starting from the second semester of 2026, the previous mechanism that distinguished recipients based on Nomination Decree (SK Nominasi) and Grant Decree (SK Pemberian) will no longer be used. Both are replaced by the Decree of Determination of PIP Recipients. In this decision, recipients may be recorded with a status of either an active or inactive account.

For recipients whose accounts are not yet active, there remains an opportunity to activate them until the deadline set by Puslapdik. PIP funds can only be transferred to the accounts of recipients that are already active. If recipients fail to activate their accounts by the deadline, the funds will ultimately be returned to the state treasury.

4. PIP recipients will no longer receive the KIP card

Another change relates to the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP). Under the latest regulations, PIP recipients will no longer receive a KIP, whether in physical or digital form. The status of assistance recipients will refer more to the recipient data recorded in the government system and the disbursement accounts.

With this change, parents and students need to pay closer attention to information regarding their receipt status through official channels, rather than relying solely on card ownership.

This change in mechanism increases the school’s responsibility in ensuring data validity. Student data used in the PIP process includes information recorded in Dapodik and subsequently verified through SIPINTAR. Consequently, errors in population data, student status, socio-economic conditions, or bank accounts have the potential to hinder the distribution process.

This policy also addresses the issue of PIP fund absorption. The government previously faced issues with unallocated PIP funds that eventually returned to the state treasury. Factors cited include technical and administrative issues, lack of awareness among recipients, and geographical conditions.

5. 2026 target reaches 19.48 million students

These regulatory changes are implemented as the government expands the scope of PIP in 2026. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education targets approximately 19.48 million students from underprivileged families to be PIP recipients.

This expansion covers levels from PAUD (Early Childhood Education) to SMA/SMK and is intended to strengthen educational access while supporting the implementation of the 13-Year Compulsory Education programme.

With these new rules, the government is not only changing the nominal amounts and distribution mechanisms but is also placing greater responsibility on schools to ensure that potential recipients truly match the conditions on the ground. For parents, the most important task is to ensure that their children’s data at school is updated and accurate, to follow information regarding PIP receipt status, and to ensure disbursement accounts are active if required.