Not with Money: PAUD Students in Koja, North Jakarta, "Pay" for School with Waste

In a corner of Jalan Cemara Ujung, in Kampung Pramuka Proklim Gang Hijau Cemara, Koja, North Jakarta, stands a preschool with a different way of interpreting education costs. Here, parents do not need to dip into their pockets; they simply bring sorted waste. More than just free, this concept holds a much larger mission: instilling environmental awareness from an early age. Beyond that, there are values to be built together, for both children and parents. “Those learning here are not just the children. The parents also learn how to cultivate environmental awareness,” said Deni when met by Kompas.com on Wednesday (6/5/2026). Every day, before or after learning activities, parents and children walk to the waste bank located just a few houses from the school. They bring bags containing sorted waste from home. There, the waste is weighed and recorded like saving money. Each family has their own “savings book.” Not containing money, but rather a record of their contributions to the environment. This small habit slowly turns into a culture. For Jumiyati (38), one of the parents, the reason for choosing this preschool is not solely because it is free. Rather, the educational values taught are the main consideration. “The children here are taught how to process waste, so they understand and care more about the environment,” she said. The impact is felt at home. She recounts that her child now often reminds her when seeing scattered waste on the road.