West Java DPRD Deputy Speaker Rejects Public School Fees, Urges Budget Optimisation

Several groups have proposed the reintroduction of tuition fees, known as SPP, in state schools. The idea was firmly rejected by Ono Surono, Deputy Speaker of the West Java Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD). He stated that primary and secondary education is a citizen’s right that the government must guarantee through budget allocations, not by burdening the public. Surono cited the National Education System Law, which mandates that the government allocate at least 20 percent of the state and regional budgets to the education sector. He also emphasised the government’s obligation to implement a 12-year compulsory education programme, meaning students in state schools are entitled to free education. “If there are still shortcomings in school facilities, it is the responsibility of the government and the state to fulfil them, not to re-impose SPP fees on the public,” said the Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan West Java Regional Leadership Council on Thursday. He also questioned the proposal to charge SPP for families classified in welfare desiles 6 to 10, arguing that the welfare data used for such groupings is not yet fully accurate. He noted that many citizens who are genuinely poor are recorded in higher desiles, causing them to lose social assistance or have their BPJS Kesehatan membership deactivated. As a solution, Surono urged central and regional governments to optimise the mandatory 20 percent education spending to meet all state school needs. He stressed that the budget should be prioritised for building classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities, places of worship, and covering operational costs and teacher welfare. He also called for greater government support for private schools, including aid for classroom construction and facility improvements. Surono added that the West Java DPRD will continue to oversee the provincial budget to ensure it focuses on fulfilling the needs of senior high schools, vocational schools, and special needs schools, which fall under provincial authority.