West Java Governor Asks Private Schools to Enrol Underprivileged Students
The Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, has requested that private schools open as much access as possible for students from lower-middle-class families. This move is intended as a solution for prospective students who fail to secure placement in state schools during the 2026/2027 academic year student admission process (PPDB).
Dedi emphasised that collaboration between the West Java Provincial Government and the private sector is crucial. This synergy is necessary to ensure the continuity of education for children at the Senior High School (SMA) and Vocational High School (SMK) levels.
Through this cooperation, the West Java Provincial Government plans to disburse educational assistance amounting to Rp2.7 million per student for their first year in private schools. The Governor expressed hope that this budgetary scheme would be promptly agreed upon by all private school foundations.
“The Governor should not be put in a dilemma. On one hand, increasing the number of study groups in state schools is not permitted, but on the other hand, private schools are offered cooperation with a specific budget but refuse it,” he stated on Friday (19/6).
To prevent school dropouts, Dedi warned that the absence of private schools in accommodating underprivileged students could potentially increase dropout rates in West Java. Therefore, the West Java Provincial Government is fully committed to ensuring that all children have equal rights and access to education, regardless of their economic background.
“Some students from wealthy economic backgrounds have already finalised their plans to attend private schools for the 2026/2027 academic year. Meanwhile, a number of other students mapped in the 2026 admissions system will attend state schools,” he explained.
Due to the limited capacity of state schools, the West Java Provincial Government is positioning private schools as a primary safety valve to ensure that children in West Java do not drop out of the education system.