Bali to allocate Rp 250b for truly `free' education

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika says the province will need Rp 250 billion to provide a truly free education for the island's children by 2010.

"That amount will ensure the public real free-of-charge education, instead of the fake one," he said recently.

He was referring to several so-called free education programs that allegedly still burden students and their parents with various fees and compulsory "donations".

Mangku said the provincial administration had allocated Rp 125 billion from its annual budget to make the free education program a reality by 2010.

He urged all regency administrations across the province to come up with another Rp 125 billion.

There are nine regencies and one municipality in the island.

The availability of that fund, Pastika said, would enable the province to provide free education for students from elementary school to junior high, senior high and senior vocational school.

"Naturally, this free education will be offered to students who attend state-run schools," Pastika said.

"To make the 12-year compulsory education program a reality, starting from this year the provincial administration has provided a financial aid package for every student at state-run senior high schools and senior vocational schools across the island," the governor said.

Under the scheme, each student will receive financial aid of Rp 500,000, which they can use to pay non-tuition fees required by schools.

Badung Regent A.A. Gde Agung welcomed Pastika's request to regional administrations to cough up an extra Rp 125 billion.