Jakarta’s Free School Expansion Targets Reduction in Dropout Children

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Jakarta Provincial Administration is doubling down on its commitment to universal education, pinning its hopes on the expansion of free private schools to bridge the gap for thousands of children currently sidelined by economic barriers. Jakarta Governor, Pramono Anung Wibowo, emphasized that providing accessible education is no longer just an option but a structural necessity for the capital’s vulnerable youth.

“We are starting this initiative with 103 schools, and we hope this will increasingly narrow the gap and reduce the chances of Jakarta’s children being unable to attend school due to financial incapacity,” Governor Pramono at the Jakarta Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) building on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

He underscored that education remains a top priority, supported by ongoing social safety nets such as the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP), the Jakarta Superior Student Card (KJMU), and a diploma retrieval program for those with unpaid administrative fees. “Together with the Jakarta DPRD, I am prioritizing education as a very specific and vital matter,” he added, as quoted by Antara.

However, the scale of the challenge remains significant. A councillor of Jakarta DPRD Commission E, Jhonny Simanjuntak, argued that the current scope of the free school program must be widened to reach every corner of the city.

His urgency follows recent data from the Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry, cited by Heni Mulyani of the Jakarta Education Quality Assurance Center (BPMP), revealing that more than 22,000 children in North Jakarta alone are currently out of school.

“One of the solutions is that free private schools must become a priority for the Jakarta Provincial Administration. It shouldn't just be 103 schools,” Jhonny insisted on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

He pointed out that the crisis is not solely economic but also rooted in socio-cultural factors, noting that some parents still do not view formal education as a fundamental priority.

To combat this, Jhonny called for a more aggressive, ball-picking approach where the government proactively engages with the community. “The Provincial Administration must be proactive. The Jakarta Education Agency must also conduct socialization to parents to emphasize that education is essential,” he remarked.

Highlighting Jakarta’s status as a burgeoning global city, Jhonny urged the leadership of Commission E to immediately summon the Head of the Education Agency to address these systemic hurdles and ensure no child is left behind in the city’s modernization. ***