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)