Surabaya City Government Distributes Education Aid to 7,380 Students
The Surabaya City Government has again distributed educational assistance to 7,380 senior high school, vocational school, and Islamic senior high school students for the 2026/2027 Academic Year. The programme targets students from poor and pre-prosperous families, orphans, and communities classified in welfare deciles 1 to 5, in accordance with Surabaya Mayor Regulation Number 80 of 2025.
The aid was handed over directly by Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi at the Surabaya Youth Hall. In addition to school supply packages consisting of white-grey uniforms, scout uniforms, shoes, and socks, the Surabaya City Government is also providing educational cost assistance of Rp350,000 per month for students attending private senior high schools, vocational schools, and Islamic senior high schools.
"Today we are handing over scholarship assistance along with school uniform packages to the children of Surabaya. This assistance is not only given to new Year 10 students, but also to Year 11 and 12 students so they also have new uniforms. Hopefully, this aid can ease the burden on parents while increasing the children’s enthusiasm for learning," he said in a written statement on Tuesday (14/7/2026).
He stated that the educational assistance is part of the government’s effort to provide equal access to education while reducing the economic burden on families. Therefore, the aid is not only given to new Year 10 students but also to those in Years 11 and 12.
According to him, unlike programmes that use a fixed quota, the Surabaya City Government’s education aid is distributed based on the real conditions of the community. As long as they meet the criteria as residents in deciles 1 to 5, recipients will obtain their rights, so the amount of aid adjusts to the need.
"We do not set a quota. Aid is given based on data of people in deciles 1 to 5. If the number of recipients increases, the aid will also increase. Conversely, if it decreases, the number of recipients will also adjust. The principle is that aid must be right on target," he said.
The Surabaya City Government is also opening an opportunity for residents who missed the first stage of registration to participate in the next data collection through an online registration mechanism.
On the other hand, he stressed that state schools in Surabaya are no longer allowed to collect levies in any form, in line with the East Java Provincial Government’s policy of making education free in state schools.
Meanwhile, students from decile 1 to 5 families attending private schools still receive educational cost assistance of Rp350,000 every month.
"Children in deciles 1 to 5 who attend private schools receive Rp350,000 in assistance every month. With this aid, there should be no more levies charged to them. This is part of the effort to eradicate poverty while ensuring all Surabaya residents receive a proper education," he asserted.
In addition to handing over the aid, he urged students to make the best use of their learning opportunities and to stay away from motorcycle gangs, brawls, illegal street racing, and other forms of juvenile delinquency.
"Study diligently and make your parents proud. Show that the youth of Surabaya can become a generation to be proud of," he advised.
The Head of the Government and People’s Welfare Section of Surabaya City, Arief Boediarto, explained that out of 8,469 applicants, 7,380 students were declared eligible after going through a verification and validation process. He ensured that the aid was given to residents who truly met the requirements so that it was right on target.
Meanwhile, the Chair of the People’s Welfare Working Team of the Surabaya City Government and People’s Welfare Section, Efi Zuliati, said the distribution mechanism was changed based on the previous year’s evaluation so that the funds are truly utilised for educational needs.
The value of the aid also increased from Rp320,000 to Rp350,000 per month for private senior high school, vocational school, and Islamic senior high school students, which can be used to finance educational needs such as tuition fees, worksheets, and practical fees. Meanwhile, state school students continue to receive school supply assistance at the beginning of the programme.
One of the aid recipients, Putri Fellin, a Year 11 student at SMK Rajasa Surabaya, admitted that the programme had greatly helped her family so she could continue her education.
"I am very happy because this aid has significantly eased my parents’ burden. Alhamdulillah, I can now continue my studies with greater peace of mind," she said.
She hopes the programme will continue so that more children from underprivileged families can receive an education without financial constraints.