Puji Pramono, Deputy DKI DPRD Calls Free Private Schools Solution to School Dropout
Basri Baco expressed this view while opening a public discussion on education at the headquarters of the DPD Partai Golkar Jakarta. During the event, Baco stressed that education is directly linked to the level of societal welfare.
“The concept in Commission E is that education is the primary factor determining welfare. This means education is directly proportional to an individual’s welfare level,” Baco stated in his remarks on Friday (15/5/2026).
According to him, improving the quality of education must be placed as the top priority in Jakarta’s development.
The Secretary of DPD Golkar DKI Jakarta then assessed that Jakarta’s ambition to become a global city would not be achievable if the quality of human resources remains lagging.
“Today, Jakarta wants to become a global city. One of the factors is that the education level must be high,” he said.
However, on the other hand, Baco reminded that there are still many fundamental problems in the capital’s education sector that have not been resolved. From children forced to drop out of school due to economic issues, to diplomas that cannot be collected because of outstanding education fees, these are still found in Jakarta.
“If we want to achieve that, there should be no more children dropping out of school, no more not attending school because their parents cannot pay, and no more diplomas being withheld,” he revealed.
Therefore, Baco believes the most realistic solution is to introduce a policy of free private schools. “I say, the solution is only one: free private schools. There is no other solution,” he added.
“Until doomsday, if there are no free schools, this problem cannot be solved. Thus, withheld diplomas and dropouts will continue to occur,” he continued.
On that occasion, Baco also affirmed Partai Golkar’s position, which is said to always support the government in implementing development policies.
“Partai Golkar’s gene is the government, so opposition or opposing the government is never in Golkar’s dictionary. If there is criticism, it is certainly for improvement,” he stated.
As is known, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has allocated a budget of Rp253.6 billion to fund 103 private schools that are being made free. This programme aims to expand access to education, particularly in areas that do not yet have public schools.
“The budget allocated for 103 private schools amounts to Rp253,625,139,600,” said the Head of the DKI Jakarta Education Office, Nahdiana, when confirmed on Monday (20/4).
She also stated that private schools were selected through a number of strict criteria to ensure the programme runs on target. “Prioritised for private educational units in sub-districts that do not have schools operated by the DKI Provincial Government,” she added.