Poor students to get free education, says official

Poor students to get free education, says official

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Elementary and junior high school students from poor families
will be entitled to completely free education starting this
academic year, while others will have their burgeoning school
fees reduced, after the government announced its compulsory
education program.

However, despite the government's promise that the mandatory
nine-years of education would begin this academic year, schools
will only start receiving the funding from August, an education
ministry official said on Thursday.

"We are still finalizing the details on the mechanisms and
guidelines on use of the funds. That's why the channeling will
start in mid-August at the earliest," Ministry of National
Education's director general for primary and secondary education
Indra Jati Sidi said on the sidelines of a workshop on free
education.

Previously, the education ministry and the House of
Representatives agreed to allocate Rp 6.27 trillion (US$651
million) -- including Rp 128 billion of safeguarding funds from
the fuel subsidy and the ministry's budget -- to provide free
compulsory education at all elementary and junior high schools
for almost 40 million students.

The policy will be sustained into the future and will be
incorporated into the state education budget that will amount to
almost Rp 11.75 trillion.

Funds will be allocated to public, private and Islamic schools
nationwide in the form of block grants to cover their operational
costs as well as direct subsidies for students. Each school will
receive Rp 235,000 per student per year for elementary schools,
and Rp 324,500 for junior high school students.

"The amount should cover enrollment fees, books, maintenance,
examination fees and honorariums for teachers," Minister of
National Education Bambang Sudibyo said, adding that students
from poor families would also receive a transportation subsidy.
However, no clear mechanism has yet been devised for the delivery
of this subsidy.

In addition, the program also provides assistance for high
school students from poor families amounting to Rp 65,000 per
month, an increase from Rp 25,000 last year. The assistance will
be given to 700,000 students who are deemed to be poor.

The operational fund subsidy will be channeled under the
condition that schools no longer demand school fees from poor
students as well as provide them the transportation subsidies.

"Schools with unit costs lower than standard must provide
completely free education, while those with higher costs should
reduce fees imposed on students and ensure the rights of poor
students," Bambang said. "Schools considered financially stable
can refuse the funding."

In its drafted guidelines, schools cannot use the funds to add
new buildings, pay bonuses or transportation allowances, or
provide uniforms for employees. They may not lend the funds to
third parties, keep it in bank accounts, or buy stocks.

Schools will receive the funds annually through bank accounts
or through PT Pos Indonesia, and must report usage of the money
to local education agencies.

"They will also be audited by the state audit agency and the
government comptroller body," Bambang said, adding that in the
first few years there would likely be cases of misallocation,
with schools needing to adjust themselves to the reporting
systems.

Reports or complaints on alleged misallocation can be conveyed
toll-free to 0800-140-1299. (003)