Poverty Stops at School

Not all children start from the same line. Some go to school with new supplies and without worrying about monthly fees, but many must weigh every family expense before continuing their education. Amid various economic challenges, school costs remain one of the reasons children are vulnerable to dropping out, especially when entering senior high school. In the city of Surabaya, East Java, this issue is being addressed through the strengthening of educational assistance programmes for students from poor and underprivileged families. The 2026/2027 academic year marks an important milestone as the Surabaya City Government distributes aid to 7,380 students from state senior high schools, vocational schools, and Islamic senior high schools. The assistance includes not only uniforms and school supplies but also education costs of Rp350,000 per month for private school students from families in the first to fifth deciles of income. This policy reflects a shift in perspective on educational aid. Whereas previously assistance was largely understood as an annual social programme, the approach is now directed towards becoming an instrument to prevent intergenerational poverty. Education is no longer positioned merely as a public service, but as an investment in human development. This step is also aligned with national challenges. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) notes that the average length of schooling for Indonesians continues to increase, but inequality in access to education remains a problem, especially for low-income families. Among vulnerable groups, the decision to continue schooling is often determined not by academic ability, but by economic capacity. Therefore, educational assistance carries a far greater meaning than the nominal amount received. It keeps a student in the classroom when their family’s economic condition is under pressure. The interesting aspect of Surabaya’s policy is not just the amount of aid, but the change in its distribution mechanism. Education aid funds are no longer transferred directly to students, but are channelled through schools. This step was born from an evaluation of previous implementation, which found that some aid was not being used to pay for educational needs. This change demonstrates that policy effectiveness is determined not only by the size of the budget, but also by governance. Well-targeted assistance concerns not only who the recipients are, but also how the funds are genuinely used according to their purpose. The Surabaya city government also applies verification based on community welfare data through the first to fifth decile groups. This data-driven approach is important to ensure that aid does not turn into a populist programme that loses its target. In the context of regional financial management, every rupiah must have a real impact on improving the quality of life of the community.