Pramono hopes free private schools can reduce Gini ratio in Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo hopes that the addition of private schools to the free private school programme will help children achieve a better future. “What the Jakarta Government is doing will cut the line of misfortune in underprivileged families,” Pramono stated in his remarks on Sunday. It is known that the Jakarta Provincial Government has added 63 private schools to the free private school programme, bringing the total to 103 schools in the programme this year. In addition, Pramono said that programmes such as the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP), Jakarta Outstanding Student Card (KJMU), and tuition waivers will continue to be implemented by the Jakarta Government. He stated that the budget for all these programmes will not be reduced even though the revenue-sharing funds (DBH) from the central government to Jakarta have been cut by up to Rp15 trillion. Previously, he announced that the economic inequality index or Gini ratio in the capital has decreased from 0.441 to 0.423. The Governor said that this decline is an important achievement, as the major challenge in reducing inequality in Jakarta is the large number of high-income groups. Nevertheless, Pramono emphasised that his administration remains committed to maintaining social safety nets to reduce economic inequality.