E. Java to trial free education in May

The Jakarta Post ,  Surabaya   |  Mon, 05/04/2009 2:59 PM  |  East Java

East Java Governor Soekarwo said Friday the provincial administration was ready to trial compulsory nine-year free education starting this month in Bondowoso and Sampang regencies.

"The two regencies were selected as they both have participation rates of less than 95 percent in the nine-year compulsory education," he said, as quoted by provincial website www.jatim.go.id on Saturday.

"Free education will eventually be offered throughout all municipalities and regencies and financed using the 2010 budget."

Based on an East Java Education Agency plan, students will be allocated different amounts of funding depending on the region's category.

Soekarwo said during the trial in the two regencies, the provincial administration would liaise with all regional administrations to make sure the free nine-year compulsory education initiative was implemented.

"The free education will not only be given to general education schools, but will also be offered to religious schools and pesantren *Islamic boarding school* providing nine-year education," he said.

The provincial administration has budgeted a fund of Rp 1.3 trillion (US$1.22 million) for the free education program.

The central government, through the School Operational Assistance (BOS), will increase the funding sent directly to schools.

Soekarwo said the funding would also be shared by the provincial and regional administrations.

"The provincial administration will bear 60 percent of the cost or about Rp 816 billion, while the regional administrations *will bear* the remaining 40 percent of some Rp 544 billion," he said.

"Through the fund sharing scheme, I am confident all children aged seven to 15 years old will have access to free education.

"The program is aimed for all levels of the society in East Java, especially those from lower-income brackets."

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